The Ministry of Health’s family-doctor project will last until 2020. By2015, the ministry projects that Hanoi and HCM City each willhave 20-30 family-doctor clinics each.
The ministry plans to expand the model project nationwide after 2015.
Each family-doctor clinic will provide primary healthcare for up to 500people and offer treatment for common diseases and ailments,rehabilitation services, and referrals to other hospitals.
Tran Quy Tuong, Deputy Head of the Ministry’s Health Examination andTreatment Management Department, said the country now had about 500trained family doctors at grassroots hospitals. However, most of them donot work as family doctors.
Some family-doctor clinicsoperate in Hanoi, HCM City, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Thua Thien-Hue and KhanhHoa, but they do not offer the full services that such clinicstypically offer.-VNA