Heath Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has affirmed that a project on building satellite hospitals, designated to ease hospital overcrowding, is one of the key tasks for the health sector.

Minister Tien was speaking at a seminar in Hanoi on August 21 to draw up orientations for the implementation of the project during the 2013-2015 period.

The minister voiced her hope that in the next three years, satellite hospitals will be able to conduct high-tech operations while the capacity of health workers will be improved significantly.

According to Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Services
Administration, a network of 48 satellite hospitals under 14 specialised hospitals will be formed during the timeframe with the focus on the treatment of tumour, trauma, heart, obstetrics and paediatrics.

The Bach Mai Hospital has linked up with six satellite hospitals in Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, Thai Binh, Lao Cai, Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh provinces to improve its tumour treatment.

Meanwhile, the National Paediatrics Hospital has joined hands with five satellite hospitals in the northern provinces of Ninh Binh, Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, Hai Duong and Thai Binh.

Since 2005, the Health Ministry has implemented a project to improve check-up and treatment capacity of satellite hospitals of the Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc Friendship Hospital.

Under the project, the satellite hospitals have been provided with technical assistance to bring better services to their patients.-VNA