Medical supply shortages in multiple hospitals have caused a major impact on treatment for patients. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Many hospitals are seeing a shortage of medical supplies, due
to the growing reluctance to organise procurement bidding that stems
from recent major violation
cases.
The situation has been affecting a large number of patients, with some
even buying their own from outside sources.
After three days in the emergency room for a femoral neck fracture, Nguyen Thi Minh’s
mother was scheduled for hip replacement surgery.
However, the operation was postponed due to insufficient medical supplies.
Minh said: “I thought that my mum would soon have the surgery so that she can
quickly recover.
“However, the doctors told us that it was postponed, as the hospital has just
performed several emergency operations, which led to a shortage of medical
supplies.
“We were told that the new schedule would be announced as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, other patients had to buy medicine and surgical instruments
from outside sources.
Linh, a Hanoi resident, had to go out herself to buy hypodermic
needles and catheters for her relative who was undergoing surgery.
It cost her 800,000 VND (34.4 USD) in total, and was not covered by the
insurance.
Linh said: “It was not a large amount, but the supply shortage is making
us miserable.
“It was only just before the day of the surgery, and I was
still rushing to buy the catheters.”
Another hospital manager in Hanoi who asked not to be named said: “Lacking
medical supplies after emergency cases, we constantly need to apologise to
patients for postponing their surgeries.”
“In many cases, we have to advise them about the choices they have –
either wait so that they can be covered with medical insurance, or agree
to buy supplies from external sources, or they can choose to go to other
medical facilities.”
According to Doctor Tran Van Phuc from Saint Paul General Hospital, the current
shortage of medical supplies and medicine was due to delays in bidding and procurement.
He said: “In the current legal context instruction circulars have not yet
covered all the possible situations, and arrests for bidding violations have
caused unease among the procurement staff.
“It is obvious that the violators must take responsibility for their actions,
but it is also necessary to improve the legal framework so that the current
staff have guarantees in their work.
“Health policy makers need to take into consideration the majority of
the patients.”
Phuc added that centralised bidding is now showing several shortcomings, and
adjustments are needed.
One of the problems is the costs in the bidding plan, which is the reason for
the of medical supplies and the unrepairable equipment.
According to Provision 01/2012/TTLT-BYT-BTC, units responsible for the pricing
in the plan have to refer to the winning bid prices within the previous 12
months, as updated by the Ministry of Health.
s would then decide on the lowest price point. However, in reality,
pricing from the sources for materials, storage, transportation and
distribution can increase, and therefore these medical facilities cannot
procure supplies at the planned s.
Dr Nguyen Huy Quang, former head of the health ministry’s department of legal
affairs, said: “The major issue that the health sector is struggling with right
now is that the staff can easily become violators, especially in procuring
medical equipment.”
Many medical facilities are not aware of the legal frameworks. Therefore, it is
necessary to have official instruction documents to specify the laws on public
property, public investment, and bidding.
Quang added that there should be a separate regulation for the health sector,
as it directly concerns people’s health.
“This will help the sector have a transparent legal framework that could
regulate any related issues,” he said.
“It will also create an institution to manage and protect bidding participants,
otherwise they would be very confused and perplexed.”
Discussing this topic in a recent meeting on amending the Law on Medical
Examination and Treatment, Dr Nguyen Anh Tri said that the procurement of
medical supplies, biologicals and medicine is seeing a major disruption, which
greatly affected the patients and the people.
Dr Tri also recommends prioritising legal amendments, including the Law on
Medical Examination and Treatment, Law on Health Insurance, and Law on
Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, as well as the relevant decrees
and laws, such as the laws on price, procurement, and public property.
“A comprehensive and suitable legal framework is needed for medical workers to
follow,” he said./.
Source: VietnamPlus
