Minister: It’s time to provide more health care services

Hanoi (VNA) - Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien talks with Thoi Bao Kinh Te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) about projects to build more hospitals and provide better services for patients.  

Reporter: Could you tell us about the project of building five hospitals in HCM City?

Minister: The project of building five hospitals in HCM City was approved under decision 125/QD-TTg in 2014. Under the project, the Ministry of Health was assigned to build two hospitals of Viet Duc and Bach Mai branches while the Ministry of National Defence was in charge of building a hospital of traumatology and orthopedics, and the HCM City’s People’s Committee was designated to build branch of the city’s Tumor Hospital and Children’s Hospital.

The 1,000-bed Children’s Hospital was put into operation last year. 

The other four hospitals are expected to complete construction and be put into operation later this year.

Since opening, the Children’s Hospital has offered health care services to many patients in the southern region.

The four hospitals, with 3,500 beds in total and modern equipment, will contribute to improving healthcare for local people.

Reporter: Along with the five hospitals, are there any other projects carried out with Government bonds’ capital?

Minister: In the 2016-2020 period, capital from Government bonds will be used for building eight central-level hospitals and general hospitals in the provinces of Son La, Binh Phuoc, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Dong Thap and Kien Giang.

This year, the ministry has proposed the Government to provide funding for 5 projects, including building a tumour centre for Hospital E, expanding the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases - Phase 2, building a branch of the National Geriatric Hospital, a building traumatology and orthopedics hospital in Can Tho city, and an Endocrinology Hospital in HCM City.

The projects are very important at this moment in aiming to reduce overcrowding in hospitals and improve healthcare services as well.

Central-level hospitals also act as training centres for health workers of hospitals in cities and provinces.

Reporter: What should the healthcare sector do to develop further and realise the priority of caring for people’s health?

Minister: To develop the healthcare sector, it is necessary to further provide services from grassroots hospitals and clinics people can easily access good services and ensure social welfare.

Some basic solutions are to expand community healthcare across the country, provide medicines and services suitable with the financial capability of the State budget, medical insurance fund and people, and reform financial mechanisms such as offer self-dependant financial status to hospitals, and to apply a hospital management model as public-benefit business.

Besides, it is essential to promote medical insurance provided to all people, especially the poor and elderly.-VNA