Fundamentally resolve the shortage of drugs and medical supplies in February 2023

On February 25, at the Government Headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha worked with leaders of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance , Ministry of Planning and Investment, and leaders of several central hospitals to resolve difficulties related to the procurement of medical equipment, testing chemicals, diagnostic reagents, consumables, medicines, etc.

At the meeting, the leader of the Ministry of Health said that the Ministry has implemented Conclusion No. 26/TB-VPCP dated February 12 of the Deputy Prime Minister at the working session with the Ministry of Health (February 9), on removing difficulties related to the procurement of medical equipment, testing chemicals, diagnostic reagents, consumables and medicines; autonomy in hospitals.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health has consulted with ministries and sectors to finalize the content of the draft Decree amending a number of articles of Decree No. 98/2021/ND-CP on the management of medical equipment with 18 amendments, notably the proposal to continue extending expired medical equipment licenses to immediately clear imported medical equipment shipments.

Leaders of Bach Mai Hospital and the National Children's Hospital said that, with the proposal of the Ministry of Health after being extended, the batches of medical supplies and equipment imported since the beginning of the year will be cleared through customs early next week and will immediately resolve the shortage of medical supplies and equipment in hospitals.

However, through the opinions at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested the Ministry of Health to urgently study and absorb to design and include in the draft Decree a post-inspection plan to replace the pre-inspection and appraisal method in the management of medical supplies and equipment, and issuance of circulation registration numbers; regulations on enterprises' responsibilities for reporting, explaining, and publicizing; clarifying the responsibilities of the Ministry of Health in inspection, supervision, handling of violations, and license revocation.

Regarding this issue, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Health to urgently complete the draft Decree to submit to the Prime Minister for signing and promulgation in February 2023.

Regarding the task of amending Circular 14/2020/TT-BYT regulating a number of contents in public medical equipment bidding to resolve problems related to how to determine package prices and classify medical equipment, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said that the regulation requiring the package price of the following year to be lower than the previous year has been removed.

Leaders of some hospitals said that this regulation has partly resolved difficulties in bidding and purchasing drugs. In addition, the Ministry of Health is also seeking opinions on the contents of amendments to Circular 15/2019/TT-BYT on bidding for drugs in public hospitals.

Acknowledging the opinions of leaders and representatives of ministries, branches and central hospitals, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said that the policy of centralized bidding is extremely necessary. The list of centralized drug bidding needs to be determined according to the criteria of use in all hospitals, common use, large proportion of drugs used compared to other drugs, and specialized drugs used only in some units should be bid in specialized fields, suitable to the reality of each unit.

In response to the hospitals' complaints about difficulties in bidding for chemicals and consumables with only one supplier, as according to regulations, there must be quotes from three suppliers to determine the bidding price, the Deputy Prime Minister requested leaders and representatives of the ministries of Finance, Planning and Investment to discuss and propose solutions to remove the problem, allowing bidding for chemicals, consumables, and medical equipment with only one supplier.

Assessing the implementation of Resolution No. 144/NQ-CP on ensuring medicines, medical equipment and payment of medical examination and treatment costs under health insurance and related legal documents issued, the Deputy Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Health to study and include in the Resolution amending Resolution 144/NQ-CP related to the pilot implementation of a number of mechanisms and policies proposed in the draft Law on Pharmacy (amended); payment of medical examination and treatment costs for socialized machinery and equipment in public hospitals; methods of preparing bidding packages for the procurement of testing chemicals, biological products, medical supplies along with the provision of testing machines, etc.

“For specific, highly specialized issues, the Ministry of Health must be responsible for stipulating and providing feasible guidance for implementation, in order to remove difficulties and obstacles in responsibilities and authority,” said the Deputy Prime Minister; at the same time, he requested the ministries of Health, Finance, and Planning and Investment to urgently amend circulars and decrees in their management areas to immediately remove difficulties and obstacles for hospitals.

Concluding the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that ensuring medicines, supplies and medical equipment is currently a very hot issue, directly related to each citizen. In the past time, urgent and long-term issues of the health sector have been identified, the causes and institutional obstacles have been clarified to remove and unblock; at the same time, a specific list of documents and provisions that need to be amended, along with a deadline for completion, has been given.

Along with that, the Government and the Prime Minister have given strong direction, along with the effective and substantial participation of ministries and branches to remove obstacles and better implement the work of protecting and taking care of people's health.

“Although there are still many problems and difficulties, the Government leaders and ministries will support the Ministry of Health, make more efforts, and promote the sense of responsibility of scientists, managers, and medical facilities,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister believes that with the efforts of the Ministry of Health, ministries, localities, and the special attention of the Prime Minister, the problems of the health sector will soon be fundamentally resolved.

“Ministries and sectors must be aware of their spirit and responsibility, and together with the Ministry of Health, resolve bottlenecks and concerns related to ensuring medicines, chemicals, supplies and medical equipment. This is not just the sector’s job, but also a job that is close to each citizen,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized./.

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