Building a people-centered health system

To stabilize the situation and organize the smooth operation of the healthcare system after the merger, the Quang Tri Department of Health is urgently implementing solutions and strategic directions. Regarding this issue, reporters of Quang Tri Newspaper, Radio and Television had an interview with Ms. Diep Thi Minh Quyet, Provincial Party Committee member and Director of the Quang Tri Department of Health.

Director of the Department of Health Diep Thi Minh Quyet visited and presented gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Luu (102 years old) in Ben Quan commune - Photo: VT

- Could you tell us what advantages and difficulties the Quang Tri Department of Health encountered during the merger process?

Like many other units, the merger is a revolution. For the provincial health sector, this is both a challenge and opens up many opportunities for the sector in the process of integration and development.

The biggest challenge we faced was the reorganization of the organization and personnel. After the merger, the health sector had 45 agencies and units. From unifying work processes, standardizing administrative documents, to re-arranging positions for medical staff... everything had to be considered, calculated scientifically , effectively and reasonably. Initially, there were some minor disturbances and certain anxiety in the team, but the unit made efforts to stabilize the morale of the brothers.

Another issue is the consolidation of facilities and information systems, digital transformation. The industry needs time to integrate management systems, synchronize medical records data and ensure the information technology infrastructure best serves medical examination and treatment.

The change of workplace and health care services (HCS) initially had some disruptions. Although there were still problems and inevitable confusion, the department always aimed to ensure that the quality of health services for the people was not interrupted.

Besides the difficulties, the merger has brought great opportunities for the industry to focus and optimize resources in terms of human resources, finance, and equipment. This helps the industry to improve its management capacity in a more centralized, synchronous, and strategic way.

The merger also facilitates the development of high-tech, specialized services. We can coordinate human resources and equipment between units to form stronger specialized centers, minimizing the situation of patients having to be transferred to central hospitals, saving costs and time for people. From this process, the industry also draws many lessons on organization, management and especially the importance of internal communication to create consensus during the transition period.

- In the new context, what are the major orientations and key tasks of the industry in the coming time, madam?

The strategic orientation of the sector is to build a synchronous, equitable and effective health system, with people at the center. Focus resources on improving the capacity of primary health care; develop advanced and new techniques at medical facilities. Not only meeting the needs of medical care, the sector is also proactive in preventive medicine, improving capacity in monitoring, detecting, handling, and improving public health.

To concretize this orientation, the sector has set out key tasks. The first is to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment. The Department will continue to invest in equipment systems to meet professional requirements and especially develop high-quality human resources, focusing on improving "skills" and practicing medical ethics. Strengthen learning activities, exchanges, and experience sharing as well as training programs, in-depth training, and technology transfer. The goal is to gradually master difficult techniques, reduce the rate of referrals so that Quang Tri people can receive treatment right in the province.

Second is to prioritize the development of primary health care and preventive medicine. This is the foundation of the health system. The sector will strengthen the capacity of commune and ward health stations to ensure health care is close to the people and effective. At the same time, promote expanded immunization programs; prevent and control non-communicable diseases; improve the effectiveness of disease prevention and control and public health.

The next key task is to promote the application of information technology and digital transformation. The industry will prioritize the digitization of medical records and the implementation of remote medical examination and treatment to improve management efficiency, reduce administrative procedures, and create convenience for people. This is a major policy of the Government, the Ministry of Health has assigned to the health sector and we are determined to complete the implementation of electronic medical records before September 30, 2025.

A specific task is to increase access to health services for disadvantaged areas, as Quang Tri province has many remote, isolated, special economic zones, and extremely disadvantaged areas. The sector will propose policies and solutions to support health facilities in remote areas to ensure that everyone, no matter where they are, has access to basic and timely health services.

The health sector is promoting the digitization of medical records - Photo: HL

- To operate the health system stably and smoothly from the province to the village and commune levels, what specific solutions does the sector have, madam?

Stabilizing the situation after the merger is extremely urgent. The industry's consistent motto is "Solidarity - Discipline - Adaptation - Development". Therefore, we focus on building solidarity, creating consensus and sharing among all cadres, civil servants and public employees.

All difficulties and problems are listened to and discussed openly to find solutions together. Maintain discipline and order in all activities, ensure all procedures are carried out in accordance with regulations, creating stability and transparency.

On the other hand, the department encourages the initiative and flexibility of units and individuals in adapting to the new apparatus and new processes. This is an important factor to overcome initial challenges, quickly stabilize and smoothly operate the health system from the province to the village and commune levels. Ultimately, all efforts are aimed at the goal of sustainable development, improving the quality of health services and better meeting the health care needs of the people.

To stabilize soon, we have been implementing specific solutions, focusing on promptly resolving problems and difficulties and constantly improving professional capacity to ensure increasingly better service quality, larger scale and greater depth.

In the coming time, there will certainly be a lot of work to do. We are determined to make every effort so that the Quang Tri health sector can soon stabilize and develop strongly, worthy of being the main force in carrying out the task of providing health care for the people in the area.

In the context of a recent merger with a huge workload, high pressure and many arising problems, we hope to receive the attention of leaders at all levels, the sharing and coordination of sectors, especially commune-level authorities in operating under the new mechanism to ensure that health care work remains stable and people have access to increasingly better services.

Thank you!

Huong Le (performed)

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xay-dung-he-thong-y-te-lay-nguoi-dan-lam-trung-tam-196022.htm