Prime Minister asks for sufficient supply of medicine, equipment

HCM City’s Cho Ray Hospital drug store (Photo courtesy of Cho Ray Hospital)

Hanoi (VNA) – has signed
an official dispatch requiring the supply of drugs and medical equipment must
be ensured to keep up with demand.

The Prime Minister has requested ministries, ,
and people’s committees of provinces and cities to direct local medical
facilities, ensuring that sufficient medicine and medical equipment is
available.

The relevant agencies must strictly manage the procurement of
drugs in hospitals.

According to the dispatch, the Ministry of Health is responsible
for resolving obstacles in bidding for drugs and medical equipment. In
particular, the ministry will focus on completing a resolution for drugs and
medical equipment, medical examination and treatment expenses covered by health
insurance, to be submitted to the Government.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is responsible for
coordinating with the Ministry of Health in finalising new documents on bidding
for drugs and medical equipment before September 15, 2022.

The Ministry of Finance is responsible for coordinating with the
Ministry of Health to amend and promulgate new documents on the management and
use of public assets and the State budget to purchase drugs and medical
equipment before September 30, 2022.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government and the National
Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control directed relevant
agencies and localities to urgently purchase medicines and
for treatment works.

However, many public health facilities are still facing shortages,
which has greatly affected medical examinations and treatment./.