Da Nang informs about shortage of medicine and medical supplies at hospitals

Da Nang informs about shortage of medicine and medical supplies at hospitals

According to the Da Nang City Department of Health, the situation of drugs and medical supplies at hospitals still comes from difficult bidding and "waiting for bidding results".

152 packages have been implemented

Voters in Da Nang City reported that at current medical facilities, there is a shortage of medical supplies (such as IV fluids, needles, cotton, etc.), and patients and their families have to buy them outside, even though they have health insurance.

In the response document signed by Ms. Tran Thanh Thuy, Director of the Da Nang City Department of Health, the Department said that, regarding the supply of medical equipment and consumables, as of September 30, 2024, medical units had implemented 152 bidding packages with a total package value of more than 423 billion VND corresponding to 4,935 items.

Of which, the total value of the implemented bid package reached more than 350 billion VND, corresponding to 3,404 items. The winning bid rate reached 91.47% (equivalent to more than 324 billion VND, calculated according to the bid package value) for 2,911 items (reaching a rate of 85.52%).

The total value of the ongoing bid package is more than 74 billion VND corresponding to 1,531 items.

Patients treated at Da Nang Hospital.

“However, disruptions in the supply of medical supplies and chemicals still occur in some units, at certain times while waiting for bidding results, such as Da Nang Hospital lacking infusion lines, nylon needles...; Eye Hospital lacking artificial lenses, silicone wires, vitreous cutters...", the Da Nang City Department of Health stated the reality.

Regarding the cause of the shortage of medical supplies, according to the Department of Health, the main cause comes from purchasing and bidding.

Specifically, some chemicals and medical supplies are used in small quantities, but these items must be available to ensure medical examination and treatment, especially for district and county medical centers. However, when purchasing and bidding; contractors are hesitant to quote because the quantity is too small, as well as there are no winning bids on the national bidding network, units have to make multiple bids, leading to prolonged bidding and purchasing.

Some bidding packages have a longer time to organize contractor selection than expected because of multiple clarifications; when organizing contractor selection, there are no participating contractors or contractors who do not participate in all items of the bidding package, so the bidding must be organized again.

Some items still have allocated quantities but their supply is interrupted due to inconsistencies between actual goods information and bid goods information or due to supply interruptions due to the contractor's goods transportation; lack of instructions on names, standards, and classification of medical equipment... so units encounter difficulties in bidding.

The human resources participating in the bidding are part-time medical staff, mobilized from specialized departments, so their knowledge and experience in procurement and bidding are limited; time overload due to simultaneously performing professional work and bidding.

Regarding the solution, the Department of Health said that currently, Da Nang Hospital is focusing all resources to soon have the results of selecting contractors for the above goods procurement package in October 2024; the Eye Hospital has implemented a bidding plan to purchase drugs and medical supplies for the Hospital and the Hospital Pharmacy. The bidding package for the procurement of artificial lenses is expected to approve the results of selecting contractors in early November 2024.

Waiting for bidding results

In addition to the lack of medical supplies, many voters in Da Nang City also raised the issue of "people coming to public hospitals for health insurance examinations are not receiving medicine, and have to go to private pharmacies outside to buy medicine."

The Da Nang City Department of Health confirmed that according to the current drug supply situation reported by public health facilities in the city, most health facilities have basically met the drug needs for medical examination and treatment.

At the working session with the Ministry of Health's working group on October 15, 2024, the Da Nang Department of Health reported that it had regulated drugs under centralized drug procurement contracts and negotiated prices that were still in effect for over 20 billion VND. Source: danang.gov.vn.

However, "the shortage of medical examination and treatment drugs has been reported by medical facilities since the second quarter of 2024 and is still locally and temporarily recorded at some medical facilities in the city, mainly due to disruptions while waiting for bidding results".

The information provided by the Department of Health is that on October 12, 2024, the Oncology Hospital lacked 2 drugs including Gemcitabine due to the contractor's slow supply, expected to have the drug in October; Vincristin was organized for bidding but no drug won the bid due to the drug price increase, the Hospital is currently organizing the bidding, expected to have results in December 2024.

The Department of Health also said that it is currently directing and guiding medical facilities to ensure the supply of drugs for medical examination and treatment while waiting for the results of local-level centralized drug procurement for the period 2024 - 2026.

Regarding the implementation of drug procurement packages, the Department of Health informed that it had reported to the People's Committee of Da Nang City and was approved in principle to purchase 1,029 drugs with an estimated value of more than 91 billion VND on June 27, 2024.

As of September 30, 2024, the affiliated medical facility has organized 58 bidding packages with a total value of more than VND 533 billion; of which, the contractor selection results for 40 bidding packages with a value of more than VND 86 billion have been approved.

The drug bidding packages that have had results have mainly been implemented in the form of direct bidding and procurement; aiming to promptly supply drugs to maintain the operation of medical examination and treatment facilities in urgent cases, avoiding harm to people's lives and health or emergency treatment of patients in emergency situations (emergency drugs; basic and necessary drugs for inpatient treatment and outpatient dispensing).

“The remaining drug procurement packages are continuing to be organized and are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024 depending on the size of the package,” the Da Nang Department of Health responded.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/da-nang-thong-tin-ve-tinh-trang-thieu-thuoc-vat-tu-y-te-tai-benh-vien-d227610.html