Vietnam has a system of 1,665 hospitals, ranging from central to local levels, including both public and private healthcare facilities. Each year, these hospitals receive and provide medical examination and treatment services to tens of millions of people.
Over the years, thanks to the close guidance and attention of the Ministry of Health 's leadership, the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund has supported ministries, sectors, provinces, and cities in promoting the implementation of regulations prohibiting smoking in accordance with the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention in public places, with healthcare facilities being completely smoke-free throughout their entire premises.
Surveys show that healthcare facilities have implemented many measures in a coordinated manner, such as: posting "no smoking" signs; establishing internal regulations and assigning responsibility to healthcare workers for maintaining a clean, smoke-free environment; and providing counseling on the harmful effects of tobacco and smoking cessation to patients and their families. As a result, millions of patients, their families, and healthcare workers have benefited from a clean, smoke-free healthcare environment.
These activities have brought about significant changes in the awareness, sense of responsibility, and behavior of unit leaders, officials, employees, and the public regarding compliance with regulations prohibiting smoking in healthcare facilities, ensuring a smoke-free environment and minimizing health risks for the public.
According to reports after more than 10 years of implementing smoke-free environment regulations, the rate of exposure to secondhand smoke has decreased significantly in most public places, including healthcare facilities, where it decreased from 23.6% (in 2010) to 21.3% (in 2023).
Notably, with the support of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, many healthcare workers at hospitals have received training in counseling and treatment for smoking cessation. Providing free smoking cessation counseling services via the hotline 1800 6606 (Bach Mai Hospital) along with a system of direct counseling rooms at 10 central and local hospitals has helped thousands of people quit smoking.
Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of the National Medical Council, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, and Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health), shared: medical facilities, more than anywhere else, need to be an absolutely clean environment to protect patients, medical staff, and patients' families. Since 2012, the National Assembly has enacted the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm, which stipulates a complete ban on smoking within the premises of medical facilities.
Although significant progress has been made in this area over the years, implementation remains ineffective in some places. Therefore, the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, in collaboration with the Health and Life Newspaper, recently launched the "Smoke-Free Healthcare Facility" competition to further promote achievements, while also identifying, honoring, and replicating effective models and initiatives in building smoke-free healthcare facilities nationwide. The organizers hope the competition will create a healthy competitive spirit, transforming the implementation of regulations into a goal to strive for and innovate.
It can be affirmed that the movement to build smoke-free healthcare facilities has been and continues to contribute to reducing smoking rates, minimizing exposure to secondhand smoke, enhancing the image of the healthcare sector, and providing a green, clean, and beautiful environment for medical examination and treatment for the people.
PV (compiled)Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/lan-toa-phong-trao-co-so-y-te-khong-khoi-thuoc-la-521382.html
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