Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has inspected two large hospitals in Hanoi to ensure they are adequately prepared for the coming Tet (Lunar New Year), the longest and most important annual holiday in the country.

They were Bach Mai, a general medical establishment, and Viet-Duc (Vietnam – Germany), the largest surgical centre in the country.

Nguyen Quoc Anh, Director of the Bach Mai Hospital, reported that it has prepared enough medicine, materials and ambulances for the holiday.

"The hotline service of the hospital runs well, which satisfies patients and their relatives," he told Gia Dinh va Xa hoi (Family and Society) newspaper.

Viet-Duc hospital has assigned 250 staff to work during Tet, according to hospital director Nguyen Tien Quyet, adding tt has stored enough medicine and materials for occasion as well as the next month.

The minister encouraged patients to call the Ministry of Health hotline if they had any complaints about health staff.

She also presented Tet gifts to children being treated at hospitals for a long time.

Tien extended New Year wishes to all staff at the two hospitals and praised them for their dedication and effort.

Previously, the Ministry of Health instructed all health establishments nationwide to ensure patients received adequate treatment during the Tet holiday.

They were asked to assign staff to work during the holiday, and to make sure patients were warm and guard against fire, explosions and accidents.

They were also requested to prepare to cope with disease outbreaks, store medicine and materials and ready emergency aid.-VNA