Suggestions for amending the law to "cure" the shortage of medicines and medical equipment.

This afternoon (November 6th), continuing the program of the 8th session, the National Assembly discussed in the plenary hall the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Planning Law, the Investment Law, the Law on Investment under the Public-Private Partnership Method, and the Bidding Law.

Hospital pharmacies are experiencing shortages of many types of medicines and medical equipment.

Regarding the Law on Bidding, National Assembly representative Tran Thi Nhi Ha ( Hanoi delegation) stated that some provisions of this law have caused considerable confusion for hospitals.

National Assembly representative Tran Thi Nhi Ha (Hanoi delegation).

According to Ms. Ha, during the implementation phase, many health departments and medical facilities sent official letters to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, reflecting on difficulties and shortcomings and requesting guidance on this matter.

"Hospital pharmacies are severely lacking in many types of medicines and medical equipment to meet the needs of patients," the representative said.

Given the numerous shortcomings in practice, the female representative proposed amending Clause 2, Article 55 of the Law on Bidding to the following effect: For the purchase of vaccines for service immunization; the purchase of medicines, medical equipment, and essential goods at retail outlets within public medical examination and treatment facilities, these facilities should be allowed to make their own procurement decisions without having to apply any contractor selection procedures.

According to Ms. Ha, while public healthcare facilities face many difficulties in bidding, leading to shortages of medicines and medical equipment, private healthcare facilities ensure sufficient medicines and equipment, including rare drugs and modern medical equipment.

In addition, Ms. Ha also argued that, although one of the principles of bidding is to ensure economic efficiency, private facilities using conventional procurement methods are able to purchase some medical equipment at lower prices than public facilities.

"The question of why this is the case remains unanswered and continues to pose a significant challenge to the bidding process," Ms. Ha said.

According to the female representative, the proposed amendment to the Law on Bidding requires not only public but also private medical facilities to publish information about procurement results.

At the same time, this is also an important database that is valuable for management and reference, creating transparency and limiting negative practices in bidding, ensuring sufficient medicines and medical equipment to serve medical examination and treatment.

Hospitals are struggling to procure medication.

Also commenting on the Law on Bidding, National Assembly representative Pham Khanh Phong Lan (from Ho Chi Minh City delegation) affirmed that bidding is not the only way, nor the best way.

National Assembly representative Pham Khanh Phong Lan (Ho Chi Minh City delegation).

Based on her work experience, the female delegate observed that, according to the Ministry of Health's circular, all hospital pharmacies and retail drug outlets within hospitals must be subject to management, meaning that the source of input materials and prices are regulated, and the higher the value of the drugs, the lower the profit margin.

According to Ms. Lan, this is valuable because other pharmacies cannot do that. When patients come for examination and treatment, buying medicine at the hospital is still more reassuring than buying it outside.

Ms. Lan stated that the 2013 Bidding Law already addresses this issue, stipulating that revenue sources must be legitimate.

"It's legal to conduct bidding. The law already stipulates that everything must comply with regulations," Ms. Lan said, suggesting that when the decree and guiding circulars are issued, they should be amended in the context of hospitals, as proposed by representative Tran Thi Nhi Ha.

If it cannot be fixed, then it must be understood in a broader sense that we decide for ourselves the form of procurement, which could be through direct contracting, competitive bidding, direct procurement, or price negotiation.

The female delegate also stated that, in reality, some people have been asking in the market recently: Why, after so many years without a shortage of medicine, is there a shortage now? According to Ms. Lan, we cannot blame everything on Covid-19 or other factors, but must clearly see that "we are making things difficult and causing ourselves suffering."

"No other country has such a chaotic system of regulations surrounding a single pill entering a hospital. The number one goal remains ensuring improved public health and guaranteeing quality medicines," Ms. Lan said.

Ms. Lan also raised the issue of whether any projects or research results have been evaluated after years of arduous bidding processes, and what savings have actually been achieved; or whether a series of people have been involved in violations and prosecuted for falling prey to the bidding process.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/hien-ke-sua-luat-de-chua-benh-thieu-thuoc-va-thiet-bi-y-te-192241106174949809.htm