Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Local patients now can receive high-quality health check-ups at the Binh Chieu ward medical station, thanks to a pilot project to strengthen communal-level medical facilities launched by the Thu Duc Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on July 20.
Local Nguyen Duc Huynh, 32, one of the 10 low-risk patients of chronic kidney failure selected to be treated at the Binh Chieu ward medical station said the service helps him save time and cost travelling to the district hospital three times a week.
Ngo Thi Kim Chi from Linh Trung ward said she feels secure with the services because of the advanced equipment and medical staff from the district hospital.
Director of the Thu Duc Hospital Nguyen Minh Quan said the hospital receives a colossal 200 patients of chronic kidney failure everyday, much more than the hospital’s capacity.
Therefore, they have requested the municipal Health Deparment to expand the service at local levels in a bid to help reduce traveling and treatment cost for patients and ease the load at the district level hospital, Quan said.
It has invested 600 million VND (27,000 USD) to equip local medical facilities with two kidney dialysis machines and water-treatment systems, according to Quan.
The hospital has conducted training of the local medical staff, Quan said, adding that a satellite emergency service has been deployed to the medical station to minimise the risk during the pilot period.
Under the project, as part of the Programme to ease hospital overload of the municipal Health Department, it is also carried out in 12 communal-level medical stations across the district.
The Binh Chieu ward medical station was among the facilities selected because it is located far from the hospital in an area with many industrial parks and residents, according to Quan.
Upon the pilot scheme showing positive results, the model will be replicated in the wards of Hiep Binh Chanh and Linh Trung, Quan said.
Deputy Director of the municipal Health Department Tang Chi Thuong hailed the effectiveness of the pilot project, saying that it will help raise the number of patients who use local medical services and ease hospital overload at higher levels.-VNA
