HCMC: Investing in infrastructure, attracting grassroots medical human resources

SGGP 05/30/2023 08:01

Improving the quality of primary health care and preventive medicine has received special attention from the Ho Chi Minh City health sector, in which strengthening infrastructure is a priority activity.

With the annual budget, the Ho Chi Minh City health sector prioritizes upgrading and repairing 50 health stations (CHT) according to the family medicine model. In 2023, 146 stations will be deployed from the Government budget. In addition to infrastructure, appropriate equipment for the stations is also essential. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has successfully piloted the introduction of an X-ray machine with artificial intelligence (AI) to Thanh An island commune (Can Gio district) and will advise the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to continue implementing it at health stations far from the city.

Piloting the introduction of X-ray machines with artificial intelligence (AI) to Thanh An island commune (Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh City)

Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Tang Chi Thuong said that the city's health sector continues to maintain and develop remote connections between doctors working at the health station and specialists at the city's hospitals for remote consultation and professional advice. At the same time, expanding the list of drugs for the station, the doctors at the station give top priority to managing chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, cancer (palliative care stage); expanding the list of drugs covered by health insurance at the health station, especially outpatient drugs for non-communicable diseases.

Recognizing that the primary health care system is still lacking and weak in many aspects, in order to strengthen and improve the quality, Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Tang Chi Thuong said that, in addition to investing in infrastructure and modern medical equipment, it is necessary to have appropriate incentive policies in attracting human resources, increasing general practitioners and family doctors at health stations. Currently, the primary health care system in Ho Chi Minh City only has 0.25 general practitioners/10,000 people, this rate is too low. In addition, it is necessary to widely develop a network of community health collaborators because this is the force that will most closely monitor people's health problems. This is the core force in primary health care for people.

Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Nguyen Thanh Hiep, Principal of Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, said that it is necessary to have a proper investment policy for the grassroots health system. Ward-level health facilities and private clinics operating under the family doctor mechanism will be the initial place for medical examination and treatment for people. This is also a place for them to access medical services right in their living area without having to go to the hospital. If there is an additional support mechanism for patient transfer, professional support, and remote online consultation from higher levels, this will certainly be a complete grassroots health system.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tphcm-dau-tu-ha-tang-thu-hut-nhan-luc-y-te-co-so-post691689.html