Patients complain of shortages of medicine and supplies, while the Ministry of Health claims it has not received reports from the hospitals.

Many patients have reported shortages of medicines and medical supplies at some hospitals. The Ministry of Health leadership stated that they have not yet received reports from hospitals regarding this situation.

People have to buy medicine and supplies themselves when hospitals lack them - Illustration photo: DUONG LIEU

No hospital has reported a shortage of drugs or supplies.

Responding to Tuoi Tre Online at a press briefing on December 20th regarding public complaints about ongoing shortages of medicines and medical supplies at some hospitals in Hanoi, including Viet Duc Friendship Hospital and the Central Endocrinology Hospital, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan stated that the obstacles in the procurement and bidding process for medicines and medical supplies are a difficult problem that cannot be solved overnight.

Over the past period, the Ministry of Health has also issued many documents and regulations to enable hospitals to carry out procurement.

Regarding reports of shortages of medicines and medical supplies at some hospitals, Ms. Lan said that the Ministry of Health had previously worked with the hospitals on this issue.

"Currently, the Ministry of Health has not received any reports from any hospital about the shortage of drugs or medical supplies. Regarding the shortage of drugs at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital and the Central Endocrinology Hospital, we will ask the hospital directors to report soon, to clearly understand the cause of the drug shortage and how to solve this problem," Ms. Lan affirmed.

Ms. Lan added that the goal of the Ministry of Health is to listen to feedback to fundamentally solve the problem of drug shortages, helping people avoid difficulties and hardships when going to the doctor and being short of medicine and supplies.

In addition to the regulations on bidding and purchasing, Ms. Lan also said that the recently passed amended Law on Health Insurance has provisions allowing the transfer of drugs and medical supplies between one unit and another to still be covered by insurance.

This mechanism will facilitate hospitals and the health sector from central to local levels to ensure that when needed, medicines and medical supplies are immediately available to patients.

In addition, the law also has provisions for payment in cases where people have to buy rare drugs outside. Although the mechanism exists, hospitals still need to ensure drugs and medical supplies, avoid people having to go out to buy drugs, and ensure the quality of treatment.

Many hospitals have secured supplies of medicines and medical equipment.

The Minister of Health said that over the past two years, the Ministry of Health has coordinated with ministries and branches to advise the Government to amend and issue many decrees and circulars, which have removed many difficulties in procurement and bidding.

"In terms of the legal basis for ensuring the procurement and bidding of medicines and medical supplies, the requirements are basically met. Many hospitals are able to ensure the supply of basic medicines and medical supplies for the people."

For example, the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City purchases hundreds of contracts worth thousands of billions of dong each year, but the hospital has established a specialized bidding department with experienced personnel in finance and planning, providing direct support to departments and wards, making it very professional.

For example, Duc Giang General Hospital (Hanoi) has resolved 95% of the drug supply issues for patients, with the remaining 5% being related to the rotation of contracts that have not yet reached their deadlines. Or, even if the supply is unavailable, the hospital can still resolve it because there are alternative drugs available, ensuring patients receive the necessary care," Ms. Lan cited as an example.

However, the minister also said that in addition to the policy mechanism, the important thing is the implementation in hospitals. Hospitals must comply with the law but also need to be flexible and proactive.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-benh-keu-thieu-thuoc-vat-tu-bo-y-te-bao-khong-nghe-benh-vien-bao-cao-20241221144728015.htm