The awkward bidding story at the hospital "kidney stone surgery requires buying own bed sheets"

Regarding the case of Mr. NVN (59 years old) who has 100% health insurance, but for 3 kidney stone surgeries, he had to go out and buy many medical supplies (including surgical bed sheets) and pay for them himself, recently, Ms. M. (Mr. N.'s daughter) continued to share with reporters other inconveniences that patients had to endure during their treatment at Binh Duong General Hospital.

A medical supply that Ms. M. had to buy at a private pharmacy for her father to treat kidney stones (Photo: Family provided).

Specifically, Ms. M. said that before the surgery, her father was ordered to perform the necessary blood tests and CT scan.

"There was another hospital that contracted the testing, sending staff to sit at the blood and urine collection area at Binh Duong General Hospital. My father went there to submit samples, do the tests, then receive the results and pay.

They did not ask if the patient had health insurance or not, and this test was not listed in the provincial hospital's list of hospital fees," the son said.

Next, according to the family, when he needed a CT scan, Mr. N. was taken to a private hospital called VP, which cost millions. "Another patient said he didn't have enough money, so he was transferred to another facility with a cheaper CT scan," Ms. N. recounted.

Binh Duong General Hospital (Photo: Hoang Le).

Responding to Dan Tri reporter about the above reflection, a representative of Binh Duong General Hospital admitted: That is the truth.

3 times of bidding, no bidders participated

Specifically, the leader of Binh Duong General Hospital shared that the hospital had opened bids for CT Scanners three times but failed to win, and there were no bidders. The unit is currently carrying out procedures to open a new bid. Regarding testing, the hospital representative also said that the unit ran out of chemicals a long time ago.

Explaining why the blood testing was interrupted for such a long time, a source at the hospital said: Over the years, the superior authorities have continuously refused to approve the blood testing package.

Before August, the hospital was only allowed to purchase no more than 200 million VND at a time. With this small purchase amount, the unit could not meet the general needs of patients for testing and treatment supplies.

Instead, the hospital will prioritize emergency cases and treat poor patients in departments such as Emergency, Artificial Kidney, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

CT machine at a public hospital (Illustration: Hoang Le).

"For the past 2-3 years, we have been doing it all without success. Last year alone, the hospital did 5 price appraisals, but every time we submitted them, the Department of Finance returned them," the hospital shared.

Worry about shopping not keeping up with regulations

According to the same source, by August, the bidding for testing chemicals was assigned to the health sector by the People's Committee of Binh Duong province. Thanks to that, Binh Duong Provincial Hospital has issued a chemical bidding package worth 55 billion VND. It is expected that in less than 1 month, the unit will have all the testing chemicals.

Regarding the CT bidding package, the hospital representative revealed that the bidding estimate has been released and is only waiting for the decision of the Provincial People's Council to officially implement it.

In the meantime, patients needing CT scans from the Hospital will be transferred to other facilities (such as Chau Thanh General Clinic, Van Phuc Hospital) and will be supported to do so at a price covered by health insurance.

Patients being treated at Binh Duong General Hospital (Photo: Hoang Le).

According to regulations, all approved bidding packages must wait until the stage of issuing bidding documents before they can be implemented. Therefore, the hospital is very worried that dozens of bidding packages will not be able to reach the above stage when the new Bidding Law comes into effect (expected in early 2024).

"Change is actually beneficial. But if we keep changing and cannot deliver the bidding package in time according to current regulations, we will almost have to cancel the bidding," the person said.

On November 8, at the 6th session of the 15th National Assembly , Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reported and clarified a number of issues of interest to National Assembly deputies, compatriots and voters.

Regarding the issue of solving the shortage of medicine, equipment, medical supplies, and slow progress of hospitals, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that in the coming time, the Government will focus on 5 directives.

1. Submit to the National Assembly amendments and supplements to the Law on Pharmacy, Law on Health Insurance and Construction; submit to the National Assembly for early promulgation of the Law on Medical Equipment to resolve issues of drugs, equipment, medical supplies and health insurance in a fundamental, systematic and effective manner.

2. Request ministries, branches and localities under their authority to continue to urgently review and amend legal regulations to remove obstacles and shortcomings in procurement, bidding and drug price negotiation, ensuring publicity and transparency.

3. Promote the long-term development of the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industry.

4. Focus on building new medical facilities to help reduce hospital overload and improve the quality of medical examination and treatment for people.

5. Focus on training and developing human resources in the health sector, have policies to treat, employ, honor and promote the role of doctors, medical staff, etc.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/eo-le-chuyen-dau-thau-o-benh-vien-mo-soi-than-phai-tu-mua-ga-trai-giuong-20231109121129444.htm