Healthcare project awaits... medical equipment.

The seven-story high-tech treatment building at Quang Nam Provincial General Hospital has been completed but is not yet operational. Photo: Q. VIET

Obstacles and delays

The seven-story high-tech treatment building at Quang Nam Provincial General Hospital, although completed a long time ago, has not yet become operational due to a shortage of medical equipment. Similarly, the health centers in Phuoc Son and Que Son districts have also not been put into use due to a lack of medical equipment.

According to Mr. Huynh Xuan Son, Director of the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board, selecting a unit to appraise the value of medical equipment is currently facing many difficulties.

Many appraisal units refused to appraise the value despite having signed contracts, citing the reason that they could not find quotations from businesses or equipment manufacturers (!). This is also the reason why the investment project for the construction, upgrading, renovation, and procurement of medical equipment for 76 commune-level health stations in the province has stalled. The Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board proposed that the Provincial People's Committee extend the implementation time for these projects.

The Chà Vàl Multi-Specialty Clinic (Nam Giang district) has a project implementation period from 2017 to 2023. Due to the lack of medical equipment procurement, the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board proposed to the Provincial People's Committee to postpone the completion and handover for use until 2024.

Mr. Huynh Xuan Son said: "We hope the Provincial People's Committee will approve the adjustment to reduce 7 out of 14 medical equipment items that could not be purchased for the Cha Val Multi-Specialty Clinic due to exceeding the allocated quota and the lack of approved quotas."

Another issue is that Circular No. 14, dated June 30, 2023, issued by the Ministry of Health , regulating the procedures for constructing procurement packages for goods and services in the field of medical equipment at public health facilities, expired on December 31, 2023, but to date, no transitional regulations have been issued to guide this process.

On January 22, 2024, the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board sent a document requesting the Department of Health to promptly send a letter to the Ministry of Health regarding the issuance of a circular to replace Circular No. 14; the results are still pending.

Expedite project implementation.

To address the issues related to medical equipment procurement, the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board has proposed to the Provincial People's Committee to direct and urge relevant departments and agencies to focus on guiding the implementation of projects with a medical equipment procurement component.

The high-tech treatment area of ​​Quang Nam Provincial General Hospital is still not equipped with medical equipment. Photo: Q. VIET

This includes establishing a council to select the configuration of medical equipment; selecting a unit to appraise the price of medical equipment as a basis for approving the budget for the implementation of bidding for the procurement and installation of equipment...

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Anh Tuan assigned the Departments of Planning and Investment, Finance, Health, and other relevant sectors to coordinate, support, and guide the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board in organizing the appraisal of medical equipment prices.

At the same time, during the bidding process, no conditions that restrict the participation of bidders should be included, in order to ensure the principles of fair and transparent competition, and to have multiple suppliers of a single item in the bidding process as stipulated.

Regarding the extension of project implementation time, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Anh Tuan requested the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board to report on project monitoring and evaluation; specifically analyze and assess the implementation process, objective and subjective reasons affecting project progress, and propose an extension period for implementation.

“Relevant departments and units, according to their assigned functions and tasks, are responsible for actively coordinating, supporting, guiding, and resolving related documents and procedures within their authority to create favorable conditions for the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board to implement projects and works according to the set schedule and plan. At the same time, they should advise and propose to the Provincial People's Committee to consider and resolve related documents, procedures, and arising issues,” said Mr. Tran Anh Tuan.

Of the 23 projects and works carried over from 2023 to 2024, managed by the Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board, 15 are expected to be completed in 2024 and 8 are expected to be completed after 2024.

Of the 19 projects and construction works scheduled to start in 2024, only 1 project has commenced construction and 5 projects are in the contractor selection process; the remaining projects are finalizing their investment approval documents or submitting them for adjustments to their investment policies.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/quang-nam-du-an-y-te-cho-thiet-bi-y-te-3131474.html