Minister of Health explains and clarifies the shortage of drugs and medical supplies

Have a fear of being wrong

On the morning of November 1, at the discussion session on socio-economics, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan explained and clarified the opinions of National Assembly deputies raised at the discussion session.

Speaking to explain and clarify the opinions of National Assembly deputies at the discussion session, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that after the Covid-19 pandemic, the health sector of our country, as well as in many other countries in the world, faced many difficulties and revealed many limitations...

According to Minister Dao Hong Lan, it can be said that this is an extremely difficult period for the health sector with a backlog of work.

Ms. Lan admitted that after nearly 3 years of focusing on fighting the epidemic, there is a serious shortage of medicine, equipment, and medical supplies in many medical facilities; medical staff from the central to local levels, many people violate the law, a wave of resignations and transfers from the public health sector; policies and mechanisms still have many problems, causing difficulties for the implementation process...

In that context, the health sector has received close leadership and direction from the Central Party, the National Assembly , and the Government; and close coordination from ministries, departments, branches, and localities.

Dialogue - Minister of Health explains and clarifies the shortage of drugs and medical supplies — Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan.

Regarding the shortage of medicines and medical supplies, the Ministry of Health said it had issued a quick report on the situation. According to the report of the World Health Organization (WHO), the shortage of medicines and medical equipment is a persistent challenge.

This is not a new phenomenon, occurring in many countries, especially more serious during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, affecting people's health care even in developed countries with advanced and modern medical systems such as European countries: UK, France, USA...

In particular, there is a shortage of drugs for the nervous system, cardiovascular system, anti-infective drugs, anti-cancer drugs, digestive drugs, diphtheria antitoxin, emergency vaccines for yellow fever, drugs and biological products made from human blood plasma...

On 24 October 2023, the European Commission (EC) met and issued a statement on the issue of strengthening actions to address the severe shortage of medicines and enhance supply security.

According to Ms. Lan, this problem occurs due to many reasons, in which, the main reasons are the scarcity of raw materials and active ingredients in the world, price fluctuations on a global scale...

In Vietnam, drug bidding is currently carried out at all three levels. At the central level, China's centralized bidding accounts for about 16.5-18% of the country's drug supply. Local levels and medical facilities carry out the procurement themselves. The shortage of drugs, equipment, and medical supplies at public health facilities has become more common after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Besides the objective causes mentioned above, there are also subjective causes, such as the inadequate system of related legal documents.

"The organization of procurement and bidding is still stuck, the coordination between units during the procurement process is not timely and effective, especially there is a fear of making mistakes among some individuals, units and localities," said Ms. Lan.

In recent times, the Ministry of Health, ministries and branches have submitted to the National Assembly, the Government and the Prime Minister many synchronous solutions to remove difficulties, problems and obstacles related to the bidding mechanism for procurement of medicines and medical supplies.

The 2023 Bidding Law, which will take effect from January 1, 2024, will resolve and remove many problems in ensuring supply and implementing the procurement of drugs and medical equipment. Ms. Lan said that so far, medical facilities have implemented these regulations.

The same policy has some places doing well and others having problems.

Regarding ensuring the supply of drugs and medical equipment on the market, the Minister of Health said that the Ministry focuses on speeding up the progress of drug issuance, drug renewal, and drug and medical equipment circulation registration.

The Ministry has also directed businesses to find sources of revenue, especially for rare drugs. Promote the reduction and simplification of administrative procedures. Implement comprehensive decentralization of approval of purchasing authority and contractor selection plans for units and medical facilities under the Ministry.

Speed up the progress of implementing the Chinese national drug procurement bidding, increase the disclosure of information for bidding, coordinate with localities and medical facilities to review problems related to ensuring drugs and medical equipment to resolve according to authority.

Up to now, the synchronous implementation of solutions has achieved initial positive results. Although there is still a local shortage of drugs at some local medical facilities.

According to the report of 1,078 medical facilities nationwide to the Ministry of Health in October 2023, 61.41% of units reported having sufficient supply of drugs for medical examination and treatment activities; 38.59% of units reported having local shortages.

"There are units that were previously facing difficulties but are now bidding to ensure basic medical examination and treatment, such as Bach Mai Hospital, which has completed 35 bidding packages for supplies, chemicals, and machinery since the beginning of the year," Ms. Lan informed.

Regarding rare diseases, Ms. Lan said that the Ministry has also presented a mechanism to resolve the issue of ensuring supply for rare drugs. In particular, it is related to the issue of financial budget mechanisms to ensure implementation for rare drugs.

Dialogue - Minister of Health explains and clarifies the shortage of drugs and medical supplies (Figure 2). — The Ministry of Health has presented a mechanism to resolve the issue of ensuring supply for rare drugs.

Regarding the blood shortage in Can Tho and the southeastern provinces, which has been recently reported by the press and National Assembly deputies, to address this issue, Ms. Lan said that the Ministry has issued five directives and assigned tasks to the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, the National Blood Center, Hue Central Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital and other blood transfusion centers to ensure support for Can Tho and the southern provinces.

However, as of October 30, 2023, Can Tho continued to report a blood shortage, mainly due to difficulties related to local bidding.

"The Ministry of Health is committed to continuing to support blood for this area with other units. However, to overcome this situation, the Ministry requests that provinces resolutely direct departments, branches, and the Department of Health to carry out bidding for people in accordance with regulations. Obviously, with the same policy, some places do well, others still have problems," Ms. Lan said, expressing her hope that localities will pay attention to directing proactive procurement, from planning, human resources, and coordination issues to ensure smoothness.

Regarding expanded immunization, implementing Resolution 99 of the National Assembly and Resolution 98 of the Government, from August 5, 2023, the Prime Minister has issued a Decision to supplement the 2023 budget estimate for the Ministry of Health to purchase vaccines in the expanded immunization program.

The Ministry of Health has organized procurement in accordance with legal regulations. To date, 10 types of domestically produced vaccines have been ordered in accordance with regulations.

Currently, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance are actively coordinating to review and approve prices and are expected to complete this in November 2023. For the 5-in-1 vaccine that must be imported, the Ministry has completed the bidding process and is awaiting results to implement it in November.

While waiting for the procurement of vaccines according to State regulations, the Ministry of Health has mobilized domestic sponsors and WHO, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to support nearly 30,000 doses of 5-in-1 vaccine for 63 localities to carry out vaccination. Currently, the Ministry of Health is actively coordinating with organizations to supplement this vaccine source...

Regarding other contents related to the field of health investment, attention to policies for health workers and health resources, Minister Dao Hong Lan would like to accept and will continue to actively advise and coordinate with ministries and branches to advise the National Assembly and the Government on implementation in the coming time .

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