Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long: The Ministry of Health reports to the Prime Minister on handling difficulties for the project of the second facility of Bach Mai and Viet Duc Hospitals before July 20.

(Chinhphu.vn) - This afternoon, July 16, in Ninh Binh province, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long and his delegation inspected the second facility project of Viet Duc Hospital and Bach Mai Hospital.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long and the working delegation inspected the second facility project of Viet Duc Hospital and Bach Mai Hospital - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Also attending were Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, leaders of several ministries, sectors and Ninh Binh province, contractors and construction units.

After the inspection, the Deputy Prime Minister had a meeting with relevant agencies and units on the project progress.

Commitment to complete construction by September 15

Deputy Minister of Health Le Duc Luan said that regarding the bidding packages of the Bach Mai Hospital 2 project, the contractor is implementing the design and construction of the main project behind schedule. They have not focused on mobilizing enough workers, machinery and materials for construction; they often only mobilize about 120-140 workers, meeting about 70% of the human resource requirements.

Hospital management software Bach Mai Hospital is currently using the software being deployed at facility 1 to expand to facility 2.

Regarding the Viet Duc Hospital 2 project, regarding the main construction design and construction package, the contractor is implementing the project behind schedule, and has not mobilized enough workers, machinery, and materials for construction (regularly mobilizing only about 170 to 210 workers, meeting about 65% of the human resource requirements).

"The contractor committed to completing the construction of the Viet Duc 2 and Bach Mai Hospital projects by September 15 at the latest, half a month later than the original plan set by the Ministry of Health," said Deputy Minister Luan.

Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Regarding the implementation of medical equipment procurement, according to the Ministry of Health, to ensure the progress of medical equipment supply and installation, the Ministry of Health has directed the investor and the two hospitals to coordinate in reviewing and developing a list of direct procurement for 91/266 equipment of the Bach Mai 2 Hospital project (worth about 508/1,100 billion VND) and 107/367 equipment of the Viet Duc 2 Hospital project (worth about 442/1,148 billion VND).

Expected contract signing schedule for equipment subject to direct procurement before August 10, 2025.

Some objective reasons also affect the progress of completing the package, such as some types of materials have changed or stopped production, requiring re-approval procedures. Some materials and equipment must be imported, such as operating room partitions, operating room ceiling panels, UPS equipment... so it takes a lot of time and procedures to import goods from abroad.

The joint venture contractor for package 1 of Viet Duc 2 Hospital affirmed, "our work is guaranteed to be completed by September 15". After the equipment was brought in, there were changes in the design, so the architectural and electromechanical design had to be re-approved, the contractor proposed. The Ministry of Health should soon approve the construction drawings; there should be a general coordination solution among the 5 contractors. The electromechanical part is basically completed, preparing to hand over the operation and maintenance documents, the contractor requested the Project Management Board to arrange staff to transfer the operation, expected to start in early September.

The joint venture contractor for package 1 of the Bach Mai 2 Hospital project said that only the electromechanical part is behind. Electromechanical equipment has been ordered. The contractor confirmed that the entire work will be completed by September 15, 2025.

The joint venture contractor for package 1 of Viet Duc Hospital 2 affirmed, "our work is guaranteed to be completed by September 15" - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Prepare enough human resources to operate the hospital

Director of Viet Duc Hospital Duong Duc Hung said that the important part is human resources, we have prepared enough human resources of 496 people, recruited and opened classes to improve capacity. The hospital has not encountered any difficulties yet, Mr. Hung said.

VNPT representative, responsible for the project's information system, said that they had worked with the Ministry of Health and 2 hospitals to deploy the software. When running the software for facility 1 for facility 2, there was a change in equipment. VNPT proactively handled the issue. Up to now, Bach Mai Hospital 2 can run the hospital management software connected to facility 1 without increasing the contract value. Viet Duc Hospital 2 is also following the progress closely, without any problems.

The joint venture contractor for package 1 of the Bach Mai 2 Hospital project said that only the electromechanical part is behind schedule and affirmed that the entire work will be completed by September 15, 2025 - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Ensure the quality of facility 2 as facility 1

Bach Mai Hospital Director Dao Xuan Co said that he has directed departments to send people to facility 2 to take over each part, such as electricity and water, fire prevention and fighting, support service area, administration, etc. The hospital has issued an official dispatch proposing to the Project Management Board to repair some items. The hospital is implementing 14 bidding packages for the procurement of goods and assets and by the end of October 2025, the bidding packages will be completed and put into operation, such as the laundry package, canteen, etc. like facility 1.

Bach Mai Hospital has connected facility 1 and facility 2. "Sitting at facility 2, I have accessed the system of facility 1, now the 2 hospitals are 1", Mr. Dao Xuan Co reported.

When this facility is put into operation, the quality of facilities 1 and 2 will be the same, even better, due to the modern facilities and equipment. The hospital is determined to train and rotate staff, not recruit new employees. "If any teacher sends students to work, they must go with them. The staff sent here (facility 2) must have skills, experience, and good professional quality," Mr. Dao Xuan Co affirmed and suggested a special mechanism to treat these staff when they work away from home.

"We are committed to trying our best to ensure that the quality of facility 2 is at least the same as facility 1." The leaders of Bach Mai Hospital 2 will soon be approved for a special financial mechanism.

Chairman of Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee Pham Quang Ngoc said that early on, the Provincial People's Committee had arranged accommodation for staff of Viet Duc 2 Hospital and Bach Mai 2 Hospital. The province has started construction of a 610-unit social housing complex to be completed by the end of this year to serve medical staff of the two hospitals.

The province is ready to meet the requirements so that the two hospitals can soon come into operation, with the current quality, so that people in the southern Red River Delta can conveniently come for medical examination and treatment.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Health to report to the Prime Minister on the handling of difficulties for the second facility project of Bach Mai and Viet Duc Hospitals before July 20 - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

Overall report of difficulties, problems and solutions

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long acknowledged and highly appreciated the efforts of relevant entities: Ministry of Health, Project Management Board, contractors, 2 hospitals, Ninh Binh province, ministries and branches.

The results achieved so far are relatively clear, visible, quantifiable, and have progressed compared to the previous inspection, the Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged.

Although the results are positive, to achieve the set schedule of putting the project into operation by November 30, 2025, there is still much work to be done, "it is not enough to just have walls, houses, electricity... but many things are needed, just missing a gas pipe, it cannot be operated". Therefore, if we are not determined, do not focus on intelligence, human resources, initiative, and enthusiasm, it will not be done.

"Through the report and opinions of comrades, we see that we still have many difficulties and problems but have not pointed out solutions," said the Deputy Prime Minister, adding that due to the long suspension, it is natural that problems arise, "there is equipment installed but it has not been used for a long time". Therefore, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the need to clearly state solutions, "seeing the situation like that, what is the solution?"

If we are determined, sit down together and discuss solutions based on the current situation, for the common good, transparently, with a high sense of responsibility, and without selfish interests, then we do not have to hesitate, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the responsibility of the advisory agency and project management board.

In the immediate future, it is necessary to soon approve contract adjustments; complete fire prevention and fighting work; contractors try to overcome difficulties to speed up progress - Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan

The Deputy Prime Minister requested that before July 20, the Ministry of Health must submit a report to the Prime Minister stating clearly the groups of tasks, difficulties, obstacles and solutions, "what you cannot do, if you cannot do it, who will do it?"

In the immediate future, it is necessary to approve contract adjustments as soon as possible; and complete fire prevention and fighting work. The Ministry of Finance must have a feasible solution on payment mechanisms so that contractors can soon have money to implement the project.

Contractors should try to overcome difficulties to speed up progress, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested.

Duc Tuan

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/pho-thu-tuong-le-thanh-long-bo-y-te-bao-cao-thu-tuong-viec-xu-ly-cac-vuong-mac-cho-du-an-co-so-2-benh-vien-bach-mai-va-viet-duc-truoc-20-7-102250716173531081.htm