To build more new Medical Facilities

The facilities of Dai Phuoc Commune Health Station have deteriorated. The doors were rusted, difficult to close or open.

Deteriorated Stablishment affects Medical Examination and Treatment

The medical station in Dai Phuoc commune, Nhon Trach district was built in 2005, formerly the base of a regional polyclinic. Although it is a medical station in Dai Phuoc commune, it is located in Phu Dong commune. According to Dr. Truong Van Duc, Head of Dai Phuoc Commune Health Station, compared to its population of over 13,000, human resources including 1 doctor, 3 physicians, 2 pharmacists, and 1 midwife could not meet the initial medical examination and treatment needs. On average, each day, the health clinic provides health insurance for about 15 patients, most of them are workers, policy families, and the elderly. Peak days are up to 20-25 patients. The demand for medical examination is quite high, but the facilities are much deteriorated. Doors were rusted, walls were mossy, absorbent, and premises were cramped. Dr. Duc hopes that leaders will soon find a suitable location in Dai Phuoc commune to build a new medical station, thereby helping the team of doctors better perform primary health care for local people.

Meanwhile, although located in the heart of Bien Hoa City, the Bien Hoa City’s Medical Center has been seriously deteriorated for many years. The ceilings of many working rooms are peeled off and covered with canvas to prevent plaster from falling from above. Many room walls are cracked, water absorbent, causing humidity.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thao (Tan Mai Ward, Bien Hoa City) shared that although her home was near the Bien Hoa City’s Medical Center, after two visits here for medical examination, she did not come back anymore, but accepted to spend an extra amount of money to visit Dong Nai General Hospital or some private hospitals in the area. The reason given by Ms. Thao is that the physical condition of the Bien Hoa City’s Medical Center has much deteriorated a lot, not spacious and stable, there are not many types of modern machinery and equipment like other hospitals.

At Long Thanh Regional General Hospital, it takes 2 years to wait until the repair of the medical area is completed, the hospital can deploy specialist clinics.

Nguyen Van Hai, Specialist Level 2 Doctor- Director of Long Thanh Regional General Hospital, said that because the hospital was built for a long time, many departments and rooms had deteriorated. Two years ago, the hospital's Board of Directors invited experts in Ho Chi Minh City to deploy specialist clinics, but due to unsecured facilities and equipment, experts have not accepted. Up to now, when the medical examination area has been renovated, the specialist clinic has been deployed. However, many hospital areas are now much deteriorated, some rooms have to be closed for fear of not ensuring safety for staff.

A patient examines and asks for sick leave at Dai Phuoc Commune Health Station, Nhon Trach District

Expect a New Look

Deputy Director of Department of Health (DoH) Nguyen Van Binh said that in 2021, the health sector will continue to increase investment in infrastructure to improve health network from province to grassroots level; Invest in equipment procurement to develop a number of specialized medical fields, step by step formulate and develop a number of modern and high-tech medical centers at medical establishments, including techniques such as: Obstetrics and Gynecology, focusing on prenatal diagnosis and fertility support, etc.; Complete IT network, comprehensive management of hospital information; Establish IT network to support remote diagnosis, treatment, centralized storage system of electronic medical records throughout the province.

Director of Nhon Trach District Medical Center Ho Thanh Phong shared, over the past 3 years, thanks to the right investment in equipment and machinery that it has made good development steps. The Center has deployed many techniques related to surgery and obstetrics that previously could not be done. Attracting doctors is also more convenient than before, meeting the health care needs of local people, helping people not have to move to higher-level hospitals with diseases that can be treated in centers.

Meanwhile, according to member of Central Standing Committee, Long Thanh District Party Secretary Duong Minh Dung, district leaders will instruct the district departments to soon allocate enough land fund to build the new Long Thanh Regional General Hospital.

It is known that the Long Thanh District People's Committee and the DoH have agreed on Long Thanh Regional General Hospital location as an area of about 10 hectares in Long An commune, nearby intersection of Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway and HCMC - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway. This location is about 14km from the proposed site to build Ho Chi Minh City University Medical Center. Capital for the construction of the new hospital comes from the provincial budget.

The Long Thanh District People's Committee proposes the Provincial People's Committee (PPC) and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DoNRE) to consider and agree on the policy of stopping auction for land in Long An commune to have land fund to build new Long Thanh General Hospital; Proposes the DoH to agree with the DoNRE to report to the PPC for approval the policy of allocating land fund under DoH demand; At the same time, it made a proposal to propose investment policy in hospital construction in the period 2021-2025.

Viet Anh