Private hospitals in Vietnam complain their development is being constrained because of unfair treatment by government authorities and regulatory agencies.
Representatives of the private health sector met members of the National Assembly's committee of social affairs in HCM City on April 12 to voice their complaints.
"In 2009, we wanted to upgrade from a clinic to hospital and it took us two years just to complete all documents," said Vu The Hung, director of Trang An General Hospital in Hanoi.
"But then an official refused to approve our documents, without giving any reasons. The head of the Office for Private Hospital Management, under the local Department of Health, had to come and 'plead' our case."
Nguyen Dang Quang, from Le Huu Trac Clinic, said, "As president of the Golden Heart Charity Group, I asked permission to use a plot of land to build a charity hospital 15 years ago -- I am still waiting for a response."
Other doctors said that while the Health Ministry allowed public hospitals to provide personnel and expertise to private hospitals, many public hospitals banned their doctors from supporting the private sector.
Private hospitals were also subjected to more inspections than public hospitals, they said.
Doctors asked the Health Ministry and relevant agencies to review regulations on medical examination and treatment, and sought clarification on such issues as training courses, medical publications and hosting overseas doctors wanting to work in Vietnam.
Nguyen Van Tien, vice chairman of the National Assembly committee, acknowledge there were problem.
"Many public hospitals lack adequate waste treatment systems but are still allowed to operate, while private hospitals must have everything ready to be given license," Tien said.
The Planning and Investment Ministry plans to remove a series of regulations in the Law on Enterprises considered unnecessary to create more favourable conditions for private enterprise in the health sector.
