Prices of over 1,900 medical services increase slightly

The prices of about 1,900 different services offered at public hospitals have increased from August 20, according to the Ministry of Health.
Prices of over 1,900 medical services increase slightly ảnh 1Patients register for health check-ups at Hà Nội Heart Hopsital (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The prices of about 1,900 different services offered at public hospitals have increased, according to the Ministry of Health.

The current healthcare prices were calculated on the basis of the basic salary of 1.390 million VND (60 USD). Once the basic salary has been revised up to 1.490 million VND (64 USD), effective from July 1, the medical pricing needs to be adjusted.

Accordingly, the price of health check-ups and bed charges rose by 4.4 percent while technical service fees increased by 1.1 percent from August 20.

The cost of a health check at first-grade hospitals – those under the direct management of the health ministry or the centrally-run cities or provinces people's committees – for example, is 38,700 VND instead of 37,000 VND. Bed charge per day at the special class hospitals goes up from the current 753,000 VND to 782,000 VND.

Patients who are receiving treatment at the medical facilities before August 20 and discharged or end the treatment after August 20 continue to enjoy the previous price until they are discharged or finish the treatment.

Nguyen Nam Lien, Director of the Ministry of Health's Department of Planning and Finance, said the electricity price had increased since March but the ministry only calculated basic salary in the prices of medical services to ensure decent income for health workers.

Lien said the adjustment didn’t include the management cost in accordance with the roadmap for public services stipulated by Government Decree No. 16. However, it helped increase the revenue for health facilities.

He said that the changes in health service prices would not affect people who were being offered free insurance because all medical costs would be covered by health insurance payment.

Insured patients who are supposed to pay 20 percent of medical treatment cost might be affected by the price adjustment. However, he said, the addition would not be significant, adding that bed charges and technical services for insured patients would be up by 0.88 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, Lien said.-VNA
VNA

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