HCM City urged to improve mental health facilities

A health worker takes care for a patient with mental disorder (Source: nld.vn)

HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City needs a special mechanism for psychiatric hospitals, including infrastructure upgrade and support for medical workers amid the increase of patients, said Le Truong Giang, Chairman of the city’s Public Health Association.

Giang made the call during a working session of the Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs under the municipal People’s Council on April 10.

Director of the city’s main mental hospital Trinh Tat Thang said the hospital provides checkups and treatment for about 6,800 patients each year, representing an annual rise of 10-15 percent. 

At the same time, the hospital is also responsible for the management, treatment and rehabilitation of 10,000 schizophrenics and 8,000 epileptics through a network of 24 district clinics and 320 communal health stations.

Despite the tasks, the hospital has only 500 beds and 61 doctors.

Dr Thang said the city needs 1,500 more beds to meet the rising demand for mental health care. 

He added that hard work and low salary make it difficult for the hospital to hire more staff.

According to the doctor, the most common mental diseases recorded in recent years include anxiety disorder, depression, alcohol addiction, epilepsy and schizophrenia. Notably, neurosis cases related to stimulants are rising in young people, he added.

At the session, head of the Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs Thi Thi Tuyet Nhung instructed relevant agencies, especially the municipal Health Department to devise a plan to address the problems of the mental hospital.-VNA