The State Audit recommends that the Ministry of Health stop hospitals from collecting additional fees from patients that have already been paid by Social Insurance - Photo: DUYEN PHAN
The State Audit Office said it has just completed an audit report on the management and use of public finance and public assets in 2023 at the Ministry of Health.
In the report, the State Audit assessed that the management and operation of budget revenue and expenditure at the Ministry of Health still has many limitations and inadequacies.
Many patient collections are not in accordance with regulations.
Regarding regular expenditure, the audit results clearly show that the work of preparing, assigning and allocating budgets at some budgeting units lacked sufficient basis and explanation, and some contents were not prepared in accordance with the guidance of the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Health allocated adjusted budgets many times...
Regarding medical service revenue, some medical examination and treatment units have not recorded medical examination and treatment service revenue for completed services; reflecting the incorrect nature of revenue sources.
In particular, some medical services have a list of drugs and costs that are included in the price structure of medical examination and treatment services covered by Social Insurance, but medical examination and treatment facilities still collect additional money from patients.
On the other hand, there is a situation where hospitals set prices for medical examination and treatment services incorrectly and collect other service fees but reflect medical examination and treatment fees.
Some hospitals generate revenue from performing technical services not specified in Circular No. 13/2023 of the Ministry of Health, such as surgical services on demand during or outside of business hours; liver transplant surgery.
Patients are charged for some technical services that are included in the price of surgical services.
Regarding medical examination and treatment service expenses, according to the State Audit, the accounting of expenses in the year for some expenses was not in accordance with regulations, such as medical examination and treatment expenses not corresponding to the recorded revenue in the year of 65.6 billion VND.
Allowances exceeding or not in accordance with regulations are 3,524 billion VND; not deducting expenses in the year, the value of medicine, bandages, chemicals, and consumables in inventory is 10,664 billion VND...
In addition, regarding the management of drugs, chemicals, and supplies, according to the State Audit, there is a situation of importing some winning bid drug lists with shorter expiry dates than those in the bidding documents and signed contracts. The rate of drug import is low compared to the winning bid quantity, and the import control components are not complete according to regulations...
Establishing, appraising and approving investment policies and investment projects that are not close to reality
Regarding development investment expenditure, the audit results clearly show that the work of registering demand and allocating capital for new projects starting in 2023 is not close to reality, leading to many projects registering capital but not being able to allocate it, and having to adjust the capital plan twice during the year. Capital allocation is still slow.
Regarding the disbursement of capital assigned to the socio-economic recovery and development program according to Resolution No. 43 of the National Assembly, by April the Ministry of Health had only disbursed 34 billion VND/1,465 billion VND, reaching 2.3%.
Progress management work, in 2023, the Ministry of Health has seven projects under central budget funding that are behind schedule.
Audit recommends handling financial 119.8 billion VND
Through the audit of the Ministry of Health, the State Audit recommended handling 119.8 billion VND in finance, including increasing budget revenue by more than 62 billion VND; recovering and reducing budget expenditure by 57.6 billion VND. The audit report also recommended handling 71 billion VND, including reducing other expenditure by 1.3 billion VND; reducing expenditure on construction investment projects by 69.7 billion VND.
At the same time, the State Audit recommends that the Ministry of Health and audited units rectify, learn from experience, and overcome shortcomings and limitations.
Accordingly, for development investment expenditure, the State Audit proposed to rectify and overcome shortcomings and limitations in the preparation, allocation and assignment of public investment capital plans; appraisal and approval of investment policies, approval of investment projects; reporting to competent authorities for solutions to speed up project progress...
For regular expenditures and revenue and expenditure of career and service activities, it is necessary to rectify and overcome shortcomings and limitations in establishing and allocating budget estimates; organize inspections of the construction of service price structures.
In particular, stop charging patients additional technical services that are included in the price of medical examination and treatment services or have been paid by Social Insurance.
Stop using public assets for leasing purposes without a project approved by a competent authority...
In addition, the State Audit recommends reviewing collective and individual responsibilities and considering handling according to regulations for errors that existed in the preparation and approval of projects that did not ensure capital sources, requiring the adjustment of the project according to the new scale and total investment, leading to the cost of preparing the feasibility study report for the original project not being used for the current project (National Institute of Forensic Medicine project).
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/kiem-toan-nha-nuoc-tien-kham-chua-benh-bao-hiem-da-tra-benh-vien-van-thu-them-cua-benh-nhan-20240919094828715.htm
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