Health clinics seeing more patients

Illustrative image. (Photo: suckhoedoisong.vn) 

HCM City (VNA) – Hospitals and
health centres in HCM City’s districts and wards last year attracted more
patients, reducing overcrowding at central and city-level hospitals, according
to the city’s Department of Health.

The
number of outpatients at district-level hospitals in the city last year
increased by nearly 21 percent compared to 2015, thanks to the department’s
programmes to improve quality.

The department’s
report, released on January 21, showed that the number of inpatients had
increased by more than 10 percent compared to 2015.

Of these, Thu Duc District Hospital had the largest number of with
more than 4,000 a day, followed by Tan Phu District Hospital with more than
3,000 patients a day, and hospitals in districts 2, Binh Thanh and Binh Tan
with  more than 2,000 patients a day.

Over the last several years, the department has sent doctors from city-level
hospitals to offer training to doctors at district-level hospitals, Asso Prof
Dr Tang Chi Thuong, the department’s deputy head, said at a meeting last week.

The city has also allocated a portion of its budget to develop facilities and
equipment for district-level hospitals, he said, adding that establishing
family doctor clinics at district-level hospitals has helped attract more
patients.

Leaders
of such as Thu Duc, Tan Phu, Cu Chi, Nha Be, Binh Chanh,
2, and 12 have set up satellite clinics at health centres located in wards in
their areas.

The first satellite general clinic set up in Binh Chieu Ward by Thu Duc
District Hospital saw an increase of patients from 168 in January to 3,621 in
December.

Thuong said the department continued to develop a system of general clinics in
more district wards, with human resources and equipment given top priority.

Nguyen Thi Thu, deputy chairwoman of the city People’s Committee, said that
satellite clinics should be set up at wards with a high number of workers and
in outlying rural areas.

The city is encouraging investment from the private sector in health centres at
the grassroots level to ensure implementation of national health care
programmes, Thu said.-VNA