A doctor examines a patient at a COVID-19 treatment facility in Ho Chi Minh City’s Thu Duc City. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) -Human resources in the health sector of Ho Chi Minh City have undergone manychanges in terms of quantity, quality and structure, said Tang Chi Thuong, directorof the municipal Department of Health.
Speaking at a meeting ofoutstanding doctors in the training of medical human resources held on February21, he said that there were 20 doctors per 10,000 people in 2020, compared withjust 16 doctors in 2016.
According to Thuong, althoughHCM City has the highest number of doctors in the country, this figure is stilllow in comparison with that of developed countries such as Australia (38), NewZealand (34), the Republic of Korea and Japan (25). Thus, the health sector isfacing challenges with the training of medical human resources in the currentperiod, in order to meet the needs of the people, he said.
Pointing out the paradox thatexists in the training of medical personnel, Thuong said that the number ofspecialist doctors is always much higher than that of general practitioners. Heattributed it to the fact that newly graduated doctors tend to becomespecialists.
"This paradox makes itdifficult for primary health care activities at grassroots levels todevelop," he said.
Many types of health workershave not been trained by medical institutions or trained in insufficientnumbers compared to actual needs.
For example, paramedic hasnot yet been included on the training list, Thuong said, adding that it is essentialto complement the city's 115 emergencynetwork.
Chairman of the Council ofthe Ho Chi Minh University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tran Diep Tuan said theimportance of the grassroots health care system was reaffirmed during theCOVID-19 pandemic.
One of the issues that shouldbe settled in the near future is that lack of exchange between the medical staff andtraining system, he said.
Tuan cited experiences ofother countries as an example. When facing a situation like HCMCity, they will immediately change the training model for new graduates.Specifically, after graduation, nurses and doctors will be trained in key areasrelated to community and family health to work at grassroots health carecentres, gaining the trust of local residents. However, he stressed that favourable conditions should be created for health staff to encourage them to stay with these facilities for a long time.
Addressing the event, PhanVan Mai, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said the city administrationwith work with the health department in devising solutions to theabove-mentioned problems./.
