Public hospitals need more independence: NA deputies

The committee’s chairwoman Nguyen Thuy Anh said that since late last year, the
committee had set up inspection teams to monitor the implementation of the
mechanism which was regulated in the NA’s resolution 10 years ago.

So far, inspection teams had carried out their work in 10 provinces and cities
and received reports from other localities on the issues nationwide, Thuy Anh
said.

After 10 years, the implementation of autonomy at public hospitals had seen
some positive results.

At present, all public hospitals across the country have been given more
independence, which helped raise the quality of health care services, increase
the application of technology in and , and improved
facilities.

The mechanism had also increased incomes of health workers.

However, the committee had found shortcomings during the implementation,
including insufficient instructions for specialised hospitals at the
grass-roots level.

There were shortages of controlling mechanisms, leading to unnecessary
healthcare services which increased costs for patients as well as for the
health insurance fund.

“The meeting today was an open forum with different parties, with an aim to
publish all information to people and voters nationwide on the implementation
of the mechanism at s and clarify difficulties, shortcomings and
responsibilities of the Health Ministry,” said the chairwoman.

The deputies would also discuss solutions to improve health care services, she
added.

In the report on the
Health Ministry’s responsibilities delivered at the meeting, Minister of Health
Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said that the independent mechanism for public hospitals
had made great contributions to raise the quality of healthcare services and
patients’ satisfaction, and reduce overloading at many hospitals in big cities
and provinces.

The Cancer (K) Hospital, the Central Paediatrics Hospital and the National
Hospital for Endocrinology had reduced the rate of shared patient beds
to between 60 and 70 percent, the minister said.

Thanks to the mechanism, index of patients’ satisfaction at public health care
facilities was up to 1.96 in 2018 as compared to 1.92 in 2017.

Along with progress, the minister highlighted difficulties in the
implementation of the mechanism, such as imbalance in infrastructure
facilities, medical equipment and human resources among hospitals at central
and grass-roots levels.

The mechanism allowed the hospitals to set up or dismantle their own
organisations or departments.

This could lead to hospitals setting up departments to increase income while
dismantling sections which were not profitable.
In fact, health care
activities require the involvement of all departments in hospitals, said Tien.

The pricing of health care services had faced difficulties due to being
regulated in many different legal documents.

Deputy Nguyen Anh Tri affirmed that the mechanism was correct, but still
contained many shortcomings.

Meanwhile, deputy Nguyen Ngoc Phuong said: “For years, the health care sector
had gained achievements and the Health Ministry had been active in implementing
the mechanism.”

“However, many public hospitals had not yet been given absolute independence in
investing in facilities and recruiting health workers,” Phuong said.

He asked relevant ministries and sectors to clarify the issues and seek
solutions.

Deputy Nguyen Thanh Xuan showed evidence that Can Tho city had 13 independent
hospitals. But the committee’s inspection teams found that these entities still
have to consult management agencies.

In response, Minister Tien said that the autonomy mechanism for public
hospitals was indispensable and in line with the trend of public financial
reform in the market economy.

“However, the implementation of the mechanism needs attention because
the sector’s activities were directly related to people,” she said.

The Health Ministry would co-operate with other sectors to help hospitals
gradually overcome the hurdles, she added.

At the meeting, representatives of the Ministry of Finance said they would
draft and issue circulars guiding financial independence for district-level
healthcare centres.

The ministry also recommended revisions on the Law on Health Care to encourage
people to use services at clinics and hospitals at grass-roots level./.