Ministry of Health shares about shortage of drugs and medical supplies

Currently, most of the difficulties in bidding have been resolved, however, there are still some new points that medical facilities have not fully understood and applied correctly, leading to local drug shortages in some hospitals.

Currently, most of the difficulties in bidding have been resolved, however, there are still some new points that medical facilities have not fully understood and applied correctly, leading to local drug shortages in some hospitals.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that over the past two years, the Ministry of Health has coordinated with ministries and sectors to advise the Government to amend and issue many decrees and circulars to remove difficulties in the procurement and bidding of drugs and medical supplies. These efforts have helped ensure adequate supply of drugs and medical supplies for hospitals and people.

Over the past two years, the Ministry of Health has advised the Government to amend and issue many policies to help remove difficulties in purchasing drugs and medical supplies.

Responding to the reflection of the shortage of drugs in some hospitals, Director of the Department of Planning and Finance (Ministry of Health) Nguyen Tuong Son said that although the health sector has recently encountered a shortage of drugs and medical supplies in some medical examination and treatment facilities, the cause is not only due to objective issues but also due to complicated legal regulations on bidding for the procurement of drugs and supplies. This has created difficulties for hospitals in carrying out bidding work.

However, the Ministry of Health has proactively reported to the Government and coordinated with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to develop and amend the Law on Bidding, Decree 24, as well as circulars and guiding documents to remove bottlenecks in bidding and procurement of drugs, supplies and medical equipment.

"Currently, most of the difficulties in bidding have been resolved, however, there are still some new points that medical facilities have not fully understood and applied correctly, leading to local drug shortages in some hospitals," said Mr. Tuong Son.

To address this situation, the Ministry of Health will continue to disseminate and guide hospitals on bidding. The Ministry is also developing a practical handbook to help hospitals understand and properly apply bidding regulations. This handbook is expected to be issued in early 2025.

According to Minister Dao Hong Lan, over the past two years, the Ministry of Health has advised the Government to amend and issue many policies to help remove difficulties in purchasing drugs and medical supplies.

Up to now, the Ministry of Health has ensured adequate supply of medicines and basic medical supplies for the people. Minister Dao Hong Lan cited that Duc Giang Friendship Hospital reported that it had solved 95% of the problem of supplying medicines to patients.

Only 5% is due to the bidding cycle not being completed yet or the supply not being available, but the hospital can still handle it thanks to alternative sources of medicine.

Regarding people's complaints about having to pay out of pocket to buy medicine outside the hospital, Minister Dao Hong Lan said that the Ministry of Health has sent delegations to inspect the situation at hospitals and clearly determined that patients will not have to go out to buy medicine.

"The Ministry of Health has also worked with Viet Duc Hospital to resolve the problem of shortage of drugs and medical supplies, so that patients do not have to pay outside the hospital," said Minister Dao Hong Lan.

In particular, in the recently passed revised Law on Health Insurance, there is an important provision that allows the transfer of drugs and medical supplies between medical facilities, and the health insurance agency will pay for these cases. This is a new mechanism that helps hospitals, from central to local levels, to quickly meet the needs of drugs and medical supplies for patients.

Also at a recent press conference organized by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Health's leaders announced the issuance of Circular 22/2024/TT-BYT, regulating the direct payment of medicine and medical equipment costs for people with health insurance cards.

This Circular will take effect from January 1, 2025, with clearly defined payment criteria and conditions, to help resolve difficulties for both patients and medical facilities. A representative of the Ministry of Health said that this Circular will minimize difficulties in health insurance payments, ensuring the rights of patients and hospitals in purchasing and paying for medicine costs.

The solutions proposed by the Ministry of Health show great efforts in removing difficulties in the procurement of drugs, medical supplies, and bidding. Although there are still certain difficulties, the Ministry of Health has taken timely steps to overcome the drug shortage, ensuring the rights of patients.

Completing legal regulations, especially in bidding and payment of health insurance, will help the Vietnamese health system operate more effectively in the coming time, bringing peace of mind to people and improving the quality of health services.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/bo-y-te-chia-se-ve-tinh-trang-thieu-thuoc-vat-tu-y-te-d233832.html