Health sector strives to solve the problem of shortage of drugs and supplies

Reducing drug shortages

As the medical facility with the largest number of patients in the southern provinces, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital receives 7,000-8,000 outpatients and about 1,000 inpatients every day.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital basically ensures enough medicine supply for medical examination and treatment.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Minh Anh, Deputy Director of the hospital said: According to the latest report, the hospital's bidding and purchasing rate has reached 80%.

The remaining 10-20% is due to contractors due to supply disruptions; problems and extended supply times due to waiting for renewal of drug registration licenses.

“These are problems beyond the scope of the hospital and the Ministry of Health. However, they do not seriously affect the hospital.

We always have alternative solutions for drugs that are equivalent in terms of treatment effects, and patients receive relatively stable treatment," said Dr. Nguyen Minh Anh.

Dr. Pham Thanh Viet, Deputy Director of Cho Ray Hospital, shared that the current drug shortage is mainly related to the disruption of the global supply chain.

Domestic drug manufacturers are also slow to supply due to lack of imported raw materials.

“The lack of medicine is actually due to its origin, not due to a lack of legal regulations or hospitals not having enough capacity to buy it for patients,” said Dr. Viet.

Currently, Cho Ray Hospital still has a shortage of drugs, but it is mainly due to objective reasons, such as the drug price is too cheap, no unit participates in bidding; or the drug is rare, there are only a few suppliers; or there are units that win the bid but when it comes time to deliver the drugs and supplies, they cannot import the goods due to a broken supply source, extending the supply time to 4-5 months.

According to Dr. Nguyen Vu Huu Quang, Director of Dak Lak Department of Health, the shortage of drugs and medical supplies in the locality mainly occurred in the past, when there were no guiding circulars or decrees, and many medical facilities did not dare to bid boldly for fear of legal consequences.

"Recently, the Provincial Department of Health is preparing a framework list to submit to the Provincial People's Committee for approval.

By 2024, Dak Lak will basically have enough medicine for medical facilities. Currently, 30 bidding packages are being approved for 20 medical facilities," Mr. Quang informed.

Where is the problem?

Mr. Hoang Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Finance, Ministry of Health, said that the shortage of drugs and medical supplies in some hospitals is due to the fact that in early 2024, hospitals will apply the Law on

New bidding is still delayed. Some bidding packages have inappropriate regulations, leading to the failure to select a contractor and the bidding must be canceled and re-bid.

The Ministry will work with localities and hospitals to guide and remove difficulties and obstacles (if any) and strengthen the synchronous implementation of solutions to completely resolve the shortage of drugs and medical equipment in accordance with the direction of the National Assembly, the Government and the Prime Minister.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen

“The problems from medical facilities during the implementation process are mainly due to the lack of a unified understanding.

Some localities have issued regulations on complete decentralization for medical facilities and hospitals to decide on purchases, but some localities have decentralized at a moderate level.

This is one of the reasons that leads to prolonged shopping time because it has to go through intermediate approval and appraisal steps.

Besides, there is difficulty in approving budget estimates for purchases," said Mr. Cuong.

According to Mr. Cuong, the Ministry of Health has compiled a set of frequently asked questions for hospitals, guiding the provisions of the law and handling methods based on the law.

Currently, the Government has assigned the Ministry of Health the task of continuing to review and propose amendments according to its authority to the content that is still stuck in the implementation process or is not suitable to reality.

In particular, the Prime Minister also assigned the Ministry of Health to take the lead in developing a Handbook on procedures for bidding for hospitals to refer to and apply.

Review of bidding regulations

To continue ensuring adequate medicine and medical equipment for medical examination and treatment, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen requested hospitals and Departments of Health of provinces and cities to continue studying and implementing institutional guidelines on bidding and procurement to apply in the implementation process to ensure compliance with regulations.

Develop a plan for the use of drugs and supplies that is consistent with the disease structure at the medical facility. When conducting bidding and purchasing, if the first time does not meet the requirements, it is necessary to urgently carry out a second time and the following purchases must meet the regulations.

Mr. Xuan Tuyen also requested relevant departments and agencies of the Ministry of Health to continue reviewing the decentralization of purchasing and bidding for hospitals under the Ministry.

At the same time, the Department of Health of provinces and cities shall advise the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the People's Council to issue a thorough decentralization for medical examination and treatment facilities in bidding and purchasing drugs and medical supplies.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/nganh-y-te-no-luc-giai-bai-toan-thieu-thuoc-vat-tu-192241114222656381.htm