Promoting the role of inpatient treatment

Clause 2, Article 144 on Transitional regulations on operating licenses under Decree No. 96/2023/ND-CP of the Government detailing a number of articles of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment clearly states: For medical examination and treatment facilities with the organizational form of regional polyclinics that have been granted operating licenses before the effective date of this Decree, they may continue to provide inpatient treatment and must maintain a 24/7 specialized department on-call organization.

This regulation has removed people's concerns about having to stop inpatient treatment at regional polyclinics.

Lao Cai province currently has 18 regional polyclinics in 9 districts, towns and cities, with 320 beds. Due to the high demand for medical examination and treatment of the people, most of the regional polyclinics are using up their bed capacity.

Bao Ha Regional General Clinic under Bao Yen District General Hospital has been operating effectively over the past years, attracting a large number of patients for examination and treatment.

Doctor Pham Ngoc Cuong, Head of Bao Ha Regional General Clinic, said: When the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment was passed, it was stipulated that regional general clinics would not provide inpatient treatment but only provide outpatient examination and treatment and organize beds to monitor patients but not more than 72 hours. Many people in the area were very concerned because it directly affected their rights. Instead of treating common diseases at a clinic near their home, they would have to travel dozens of kilometers to the district hospital for treatment. Fortunately, in early 2024, the Ministry of Health decided to allow regional general clinics to continue to provide inpatient treatment according to the classification, from 6 to 7 days in 1 treatment session.

We met Ms. Trieu Thi Quyt in Kim Quang village, Kim Son commune (Bao Yen) when she was completing the procedures to pay the hospital fee for her child after 7 days of bronchitis treatment at Bao Ha Regional General Clinic. Ms. Quyt said: My house is 10 km from the clinic, nearly 30 km from Bao Yen District General Hospital, so only when the disease is serious and the doctors at the clinic order to transfer to a higher level, do we have to go far. Whenever a relative in my family is sick, I feel secure taking them to Bao Ha Regional General Clinic for examination and treatment.

Bao Ha Regional General Clinic is located in the central area between Bao Thang, Bao Yen and Van Ban districts. The clinic provides medical examination and treatment for people in Bao Ha, Kim Son and Cam Con communes, Bao Yen district; Tan An and Tan Thuong communes, Van Ban district and Lang Thip and Chau Que Thuong communes, Van Yen district, Yen Bai province. The population density in this area is estimated at 30,000 people. On average, doctors examine, prescribe and dispense medicine to 50-60 patients per day. The actual number of beds here is currently 33, although it has increased by 8 beds compared to the assigned plan, many times, patients still have to share beds.

Currently, Bao Ha Regional General Clinic has been equipped with a number of machines and equipment such as 4D ultrasound, endoscopy, testing system, and will soon invest in an X-ray machine. Bao Yen District General Hospital has strengthened the clinic's human resources to 13 medical staff. Of the 4 doctors, there is 1 specialist in internal medicine, 4 nurses, 2 midwives, 1 pharmacist and 2 technicians.

In 2023, the total number of people coming for examination and treatment at 18 regional polyclinics in the province will be more than 102,000 (an average of 20-40 patients per day), an increase of more than 10,000 compared to 2022. The total number of inpatients in 2023 will be 19,279, an increase of nearly 5,000 compared to the previous year. Most people have health insurance cards, the main diseases are chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases and seasonal diseases. The clinics also provide first aid and emergency care for cases of occupational accidents, traffic accidents, drowning, etc.

Paying attention to investing in the regional polyclinic system, recently, a number of projects to build and repair regional polyclinics have been implemented, such as Tang Loong Polyclinic (Bao Thang district) has completed repairs and put into use; investing in upgrading Lung Phinh Regional Polyclinic (Bac Ha district); building a new Sin Cheng Regional Polyclinic (Si Ma Cai district) and building a new treatment building for Muong Bo Regional Polyclinic (Sa Pa).

To improve the quality of medical examination and treatment, the health sector continues to advise, improve and upgrade a number of regional general clinics into hospitals affiliated with district general hospitals; continue to supplement human resources, rotate and mobilize medical personnel for regular support; advise on investment in equipment and facilities for regional general clinics.

In addition, the sector will advise the province on mechanisms and policies to attract medical staff to work at regional polyclinics and develop technical services at clinics; synchronously deploy information technology systems in medical examination and treatment, strengthen the connection between grassroots health care with higher-level health care and people in remote consultation, medical examination and treatment...

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