Improvements at commune-level health stations.

After nearly four months of operating under the two-tiered local government model, commune and ward health stations have maintained good professional performance. Some health stations have shown positive and noticeable improvements, effectively meeting the healthcare needs of the people.

Doctors at Song Ray Commune Health Station examine local residents. Photo: Le Thai

However, some difficulties regarding personnel and facilities still exist, requiring prompt resolution so that commune and ward health stations can truly be the "gatekeepers" in providing primary healthcare for the people.

Significant changes

The Song Ray Commune Health Station in Dong Nai Province was newly established by merging the Health Stations of Song Ray and Lam San Communes and the former Song Ray Regional Multi-Specialty Clinic. The Song Ray Commune Health Station is currently under the management and operation of the Cam My Regional Health Center; it is also indirectly managed and coordinates with the Party Committee and People's Committee of Song Ray Commune in carrying out health work (medical examination and treatment, primary healthcare, national health programs, etc.).

According to Luong Thi Lan Anh, Deputy Head of the Song Ray Commune Health Station: Since 2024, the Song Ray Commune Health Station and the Lam San Sub-station have been newly built and put into operation. The facilities are spacious, clean, and provide convenience and safety for people when they come for medical examinations, treatment, and primary healthcare. In addition, the Cam My Regional Health Center has arranged and allocated an ambulance at the Health Station for timely emergency care and patient transport.

According to the new regulations of the Ministry of Health , village and hamlet health workers must be recruited with medical professional qualifications. However, in practice, this is very difficult to implement because the salary allowance is too low to cover living expenses. Currently, Song Ray Commune Health Station, as well as other health stations, are still employing village and hamlet health workers under contract who lack professional qualifications, having only graduated from high school or possessing other professional certificates. This is against regulations and does not meet the required standards in the future.

Deputy Head of Song Ray Commune Health Station, LUONG THI LAN ANH

“The Song Ray Commune Health Station currently has 36 staff members, including 4 doctors, 3 pharmacists, 8 general practitioners, 2 traditional medicine practitioners, 11 nurses, 1 medical laboratory technician, 4 midwives, 2 population officers, and 1 accountant. Currently, one general practitioner is studying to become a general practitioner. In addition, the Cam My Regional Health Center has reinforced the station with 1 traditional medicine doctor and 2 contract workers under Decree 111 to ensure the continuous and effective provision of medical examination and treatment services for the people in the area,” added Luong Thi Lan Anh, Deputy Head of the Song Ray Commune Health Station.

After nearly four months of operating under the two-tiered local government model, the Song Ray Commune Health Station has sufficient staff and personnel, including doctors, and provides comprehensive medical examinations in various specialties: internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, traditional medicine - physiotherapy, laboratory testing, ultrasound, and pharmacy services. As a result, people are increasingly trusting the commune health station for examinations and treatment, receiving comprehensive healthcare at the local level. In cases where the health station's capacity is exceeded, patients are referred to the Cam My Regional Health Center or the Long Khanh Regional General Hospital. "Thanks to being equipped with an ambulance, the transportation of patients in emergency and critical situations is always timely, ensuring the lives and health of patients," shared Luong Thi Lan Anh, Deputy Head of the Song Ray Commune Health Station.

After the merger, the Loc Thanh border commune health station, in addition to the main station, has two branches: the Loc Hoa military-civilian health station and the former Loc Hoa commune health station. According to Dr. Vu Hoang Anh, Deputy Head of the Loc Thanh commune health station, after the merger, the commune health station has more personnel and resources to develop and provide primary healthcare for the people. The merged stations have supported each other with knowledge and expertise; making it easier to deploy, rotate, and arrange job positions from the main station to the health station branches and vice versa. This has led to greater proactiveness in assigned tasks in the locality; medical examination, treatment, healthcare for the people, and disease prevention and control are carried out continuously…

Increase investment in healthcare at the commune and ward levels.

The initial advantages of commune health stations operating under the two-tiered local government model have boosted the morale and confidence of doctors, nurses, and medical staff; and reassured the public about seeking medical examination, treatment, and primary healthcare. However, for this grassroots healthcare system to fully realize its potential, many limitations still need to be overcome, especially regarding personnel and infrastructure.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien, Acting Head of the Trang Dai Ward Health Station, said: "According to the allocated staffing for the ward health station, there are 33 personnel, but currently there are only 24 and no deputy head. Therefore, the Trang Dai Ward Health Station hopes to strengthen its staff to better handle the increasing workload. We also request that leaders at all levels pay attention and organize more training programs to improve the professional skills of doctors, nurses, and staff at commune-level health stations in general and the Trang Dai Ward Health Station in particular. Only then will healthcare and service to the people be even better," Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien expressed.

In addition to proposals regarding personnel, facilities, and equipment, Dr. Tran Van Thi, Head of the Loc Quang Commune Health Station in Dong Nai Province, suggested: To further improve the quality of the commune health station's operations in the future, we earnestly hope that the Ministry of Health will soon issue a new circular to replace Circular No. 33/2015-BYT guiding the functions and tasks of commune, ward, and town health stations. This circular should regulate the functions and tasks of commune-level health stations in accordance with the two-tiered local government model, thereby enabling proactive primary healthcare for the people, especially preventive medicine, to protect people from disease early and from afar.

Sea Swallow

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202510/khoi-sac-o-tram-y-te-tuyen-xa-f782eb6/