Quang Ninh arranges the health system according to the 2-level local government model: Improving the quality of preventive medicine

When the 13 district-level health centers were reorganized into 5 regional general hospitals, the preventive health function was separated and assigned to the grassroots level. In the new model, the Quang Ninh Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC) plays the role of coordinating and directly directing the professional activities of 55 health stations, ensuring that the "shield" of epidemic prevention operates uninterruptedly and consistently.

Delivering preventive medicine to grassroots level

One of the objectives of Project No. 4807/DA-SYT on the arrangement of the health system in Quang Ninh province according to the 2-level local government model is to separate the two systems: treatment and prevention. Previously, district health centers performed both functions. Now, 5 new regional general hospitals will focus on treatment expertise. All tasks of preventive medicine, population and food safety are transferred to 55 commune, ward and special zone health stations.

Staff of Mao Khe Ward Health Station inject tetanus-diphtheria adsorbed vaccine (Td) for children in the ward. Photo: CDC Quang Ninh

This change also poses the challenge of how to ensure that the backup system, which is the first "shield", does not have "gaps" during the transition period; especially during the epidemic season at the end of the year. To solve this problem, the Quang Ninh Center for Disease Control (CDC) was assigned to play the role of focal point, coordinating the reception of tasks in the field of prevention and providing direct professional guidance to 55 medical stations across the province.

Director of CDC Quang Ninh, Dr. Vu Quyet Thang said: after the arrangement, the Provincial Center for Disease Control directly provides professional guidance to 55 commune, ward and special zone health stations across the province. The biggest advantage is that the organizational system is now streamlined, with clear focal points, helping the direction and monitoring of epidemics to be more focused and unified.

However, challenges also arise from the lack of human resources, equipment, and facilities at some health stations, requiring the sector to both strengthen expertise and ensure psychological stability and working methods for health workers at the grassroots level. However, Dr. Vu Quyet Thang affirmed that the highest goal of the sector in this transition period is to ensure that people receive continuous, uninterrupted health care.

Maintain professional activities and provide continuous services

To achieve the set goals, immediately after the new units were established, the Quang Ninh Department of Health issued a directive, requiring medical stations to maintain all professional activities, ensuring the continuous provision of medical services to the people. The Department has proposed a series of solutions for implementation.

Accordingly, regarding epidemic surveillance, health stations continue to be the front line, maintaining surveillance activities and early detection of infectious diseases in the locality. When there is a suspected case, the station must take samples and send them directly to the Quang Ninh CDC for testing, promptly identifying the cause of the epidemic.

Regarding response capacity, the network of "Rapid response teams for infectious diseases and epidemics" will be re-established at 100% of commune, ward and special zone health stations according to regulations of the Ministry of Health, ensuring readiness to respond to all public health situations.

Regarding vaccination, this is a key task, CDC Quang Ninh is assigned to direct the maintenance of regular vaccination activities, school vaccination according to plan. In particular, it is necessary to develop a plan for a cold chain system to preserve vaccines according to GSP standards (good vaccine preservation practices); at the same time, select appropriate health stations to organize rabies vaccination and anti-rabies serum while waiting for new instructions.

The health sector is also urgently revoking the licenses of old units; at the same time, completing the procedures to announce qualified facilities for vaccination, biosafety, and disinfection and insect extermination services for new health stations. All health stations with laboratories will have to announce their biosafety facilities according to regulations. Another new point is that regional general hospitals will sign contracts to collect and treat medical waste for health stations, ensuring environmental safety.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/quang-ninh-sap-xep-he-thong-y-te-theo-mo-hinh-chinh-quyen-dia-phuong-2-cap-nang-cao-chat-luong-y-te-du-phong-10394993.html