Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has asked the Ministry of Health to review decentralised administration in private-run medical facilities while enhancing the inspection of their operations in five major cities.

At a televised conference themed “State management in private healthcare” in Hanoi on November 4, Deputy PM Nhan hailed the health sector’s medical check-ups and treatment over the past time, but also noted several incidents at private-run medical facilities that have harmed the health of a section of people.

The Ministries of Public Security, Health and Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs must work closely together to keep close checks over foreigners who practise private medicine in Vietnam, Nhan urged.

He expressed his belief that the health sector, with a strong determination, will effectively roll out steps so as to better manage private medical clinics nationwide.

The country is now home to 157 non-State hospitals and over 30,000 private clinics that treated some 6.6 million patients last year. Of them, over two million had their own medical insurance cards, about 200,000 underwent surgery while nearly 22,000 enjoyed a fee exemption or reduction.

There are currently around 250,000 physicians, pharmacists and nurses working across the nation.

In the past, the Health Ministry issued a range of law documents on health examination and treatment.-VNA