Ministry of Health: Strengthening security for patients and medical staff

On May 12, the Ministry of Health sent a document to the directors of health departments of provinces and centrally run cities; directors of hospitals and institutes with beds under the Ministry of Health; heads of health departments of ministries and branches (collectively referred to as units) on strengthening security and safety for patients and medical staff.

According to the Ministry of Health , in recent times, at a number of medical examination and treatment facilities, there have been many incidents of patients' relatives assaulting medical staff. Typically, since the beginning of 2025, there have been 3 consecutive incidents recorded at: Chu Se District Medical Center, Gia Lai (on March 31, 2025); Thanh Ba District Medical Center, Phu Tho Province (on April 28, 2025) and Nam Dinh Provincial General Hospital (on May 3, 2025).

The above incidents have disrupted order, security and safety of the hospital, seriously affecting medical examination and treatment; affecting the spirit and health, threatening the lives, reducing the motivation and dedication of the team of doctors and medical staff.

In the face of the above situation, to strengthen security and safety for medical examination and treatment facilities, the Ministry of Health requests heads of units to urgently organize a review, consolidate and fully deploy measures to ensure security and order according to the provisions of Article 114 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023; Proactively develop plans to prevent and respond to situations of disturbance and assault on medical staff; Direct the strict implementation of the Ministry of Health's guidelines on ensuring security, safety and order in medical examination and treatment facilities.

Hospitals urgently review, install and maintain security camera systems in key areas such as the Examination Department, Emergency Department, duty rooms, administrative corridors, hospital entrances... Increase security personnel, arrange 24/7 duty at key locations, ensuring proactiveness in handling situations.

The Ministry of Health requires medical facilities to closely coordinate with police agencies and local authorities, proactively exchange information, and coordinate to strictly handle violations of laws related to hospital security and safety.

In particular, the Ministry of Health requires medical facilities to review the process of receiving and handling emergency cases, the medical examination process and regulations on providing and exchanging information with patients and their relatives during the medical examination and treatment process according to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, Decree No. 96/2023/ND-CP, Circular No. 32/2023/TT-BYT and current regulations; Strengthen the application of information technology in medical examination and treatment management, especially the effective implementation of electronic medical records, online medical examination registration, and examination by time frame to reduce waiting time, avoid overload, and reduce the risk of conflict.

The Ministry of Health recommends strengtheningeducation on professional ethics and codes of conduct and organizing regular training for medical staff on communication skills and situation handling; Resolutely and strictly handling violations of professional regulations, regulations on professional ethics and codes of conduct./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/bo-y-te-tang-cuong-dam-bao-an-ninh-cho-nguoi-benh-va-nhan-vien-y-te-post1038096.vnp