Overcoming difficulties to take care of people's health

After the administrative unit merger, many highland communes in Thai Nguyen province faced many difficulties in health care for the people. However, with flexible solutions, some localities have proactively overcome the difficulties to serve the people better and better.

People receive medical advice, examination, and treatment at the Nghiên Loan Commune Health Station.

For example, Nghiên Loan commune, one of the newly established highland communes, was formed by merging the entire area and population of three former communes: Xuân La, An Thắng, and Nghiên Loan. After the merger, the commune has a natural area of ​​over 130 square kilometers and a population of over 11,000 people, with many households living nearly 20 kilometers from the commune center.

In response to this situation, the commune proactively reviewed and strengthened the system of grassroots health stations, rationally arranging the station locations to ensure that people in remote villages and hamlets receive timely and adequate primary healthcare.

Ms. La Dieu Thuan, Head of Nghien Loan Commune Health Station, shared: "To ensure healthcare for the people after the merger, we have maintained the same staff and facilities at the health stations of the former localities. At the same time, we have reviewed and adjusted the work assignment plan to maximize the effectiveness of each healthcare worker at the stations."

In addition, the commune health station has developed a healthcare plan suitable to the new situation, strengthening mobile medical examination and treatment activities in remote villages to ensure that people have convenient access to healthcare services.

Vinh Thong commune, established after the merger of three highland communes – Sy Binh, Vu Muon, and Cao Son – has a post-merger area of ​​approximately 110 square kilometers and a population of about 6,500 people. To align with the two-tiered local government model, the health stations have also been reorganized for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Accordingly, the stations are equipped with appropriate personnel and equipment, following the principle of minimizing disruption to medical examination and treatment activities, ensuring efficiency, and enabling all citizens to access basic healthcare services right in their place of residence.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Dung, Head of the Vinh Thong Commune Health Station, said: "The work of caring for the people's health at the Cao Son, Vu Muon, and Sy Binh health stations is still regularly maintained, including medical examinations, treatment, and disease prevention and control. Thanks to this, people can easily access medical services, and there have been no complaints about healthcare in the area."

Medical examination and treatment for the elderly at Sy Binh Health Station, Vinh Thong commune.

According to information from the Thai Nguyen Provincial Health Department, the health facilities in the province remain largely unchanged, with no changes in personnel or locations for examination and treatment. Specifically, in the 37 communes in the northern area, the 108 health stations of the communes before the merger are still operating normally. These stations continue to provide medical examination, treatment, and disease prevention services, especially during expanded immunization programs and seasonal epidemic control, contributing to maximum convenience and satisfaction for the people.

Ms. Hoang Thi Mai from Ban Cuon, Cho Don commune, shared: "After the merger, Cho Don commune still provides medical services as before, because the health insurance cards remain the same and haven't changed. The medical examination location is still the same; we only have to go to the provincial level when we are seriously ill."

Alongside ensuring the basic healthcare system, the Thai Nguyen Health Department also focuses on assigning and deploying suitable personnel, and investing in additional essential equipment for health stations in mountainous areas, in order to improve the quality of primary healthcare for people in disadvantaged regions.

Mr. Dinh Manh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Department of Health, said: "Currently, health stations in the northern part of the province are facing many difficulties due to the fragmented terrain and sparse population, requiring people to travel long distances to reach medical facilities. Therefore, we are maintaining the health stations as before to create the most favorable conditions for the people. However, some stations have deteriorated or have not been renovated or repaired. We will consider investing in repairing and upgrading facilities to better meet the healthcare needs of the people."

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/y-te/202508/vuot-kho-cham-lo-suc-khoe-cho-nhan-dan-a4f3171/