Assault on medical staff should be considered as resisting public officials on duty.

Expressing concern about the recent violence against medical staff in medical examination and treatment facilities, Minister Dao Hong Lan said that it is necessary to consider the act of assaulting medical staff while performing medical examination and treatment duties as an act of resisting people on official duty.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan spoke to explain and clarify the opinions of National Assembly deputies at the discussion session. (Photo: THUY NGUYEN)

At the National Assembly's socio -economic discussion session on the morning of October 30, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan gave a speech explaining and clarifying the opinions raised by National Assembly deputies, including the issue of ensuring a safe and effective working environment for medical staff in the face of alarming cases of violence in recent times.

Minister Dao Hong Lan affirmed that the situation of violence against medical staff in medical examination and treatment facilities has been a "hot" issue for a long time. These violent incidents not only seriously affect the security and safety of hospitals, but also directly threaten the health and lives of medical staff, patients and their relatives, causing public outrage, psychological trauma, and reducing the working spirit of the medical staff.

According to the Minister, in order to minimize this situation, the health sector has made great efforts to implement many solutions in recent times. In particular, the Ministry of Health has issued regulations on coordination with the Ministry of Public Security in ensuring security and order at health facilities; increased support for medical examination and treatment facilities, reduced hospital overload, improved service quality and patient satisfaction.

Scene of the National Assembly discussion session, morning of October 30, 2025. (Photo: THUY NGUYEN)

Along with that, the Ministry of Health also strengthens coordination with local authorities when incidents of violence occur, resolutely speaking up to demand strict handling of violations. Most importantly, it is necessary to advise on perfecting mechanisms and policies related to handling acts of using force to threaten medical staff while on duty.

The Minister added that most recently, when drafting the 2023 Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, the Ministry of Health, in the process of submitting it to the Government and the National Assembly, proposed to add regulations on ensuring hospital security and safety. Article 7 of the law also has related regulations.

“At that time, we really wanted a stronger solution, specifically considering the act of abusing medical staff while working as an act of resisting a person on duty. But unfortunately, the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment in 2023 has not included this content,” Minister Dao Hong Lan expressed.

The Minister said that in recent years, the situation of violence against medical staff has not decreased but has increased and become more serious. In 2025 alone, there were 6 cases of violence against medical staff, the most recent of which was at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, which sounded the alarm and was like “the last straw”.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan speaks. (Photo: THUY NGUYEN)

“Our nurse Nguyen Thi Trang was stabbed 11 times, including one that penetrated her lung, seriously threatening her life. We believe that without stronger measures, the abuse will not stop,” the Minister warned.

Stating that the cases of violence have made people angry and health sector officials and employees angry, the Minister said that strict handling according to legal regulations is still not really satisfactory.

From there, the commander of the health sector expressed his wish that the National Assembly consider adding to the Resolution the content: "Assaulting medical staff while working, performing the duties of examining, treating, and saving people is an act of resisting people on official duty."

Minister Dao Hong Lan also emphasized that health workers are looking forward to your sympathy, sharing, and support. “In any situation, when performing life-saving tasks, ensuring safe working conditions must be given the highest priority, because this not only affects health workers but also directly relates to the lives of patients being treated,” the Minister affirmed.

TRUNG HUNG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/can-coi-hanh-vi-hanh-hung-nhan-vien-y-te-la-chong-nguoi-thi-hanh-cong-vu-post919174.html