Minister Dao Hong Lan talks about hospital overload, fake medicine, and Hang Du Muc's Kera candy

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan affirmed that many solutions are being implemented to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment, and is determined to prevent fake drugs and fake functional foods.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan - Photo: National Assembly

Explaining the issues delegates were interested in at the discussion session on socio -economic issues and state budget for 2024 and the first months of 2025 on the morning of June 18, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, based on looking directly at the issues that need to be resolved, said the ministry is focusing on improving service quality and focusing on taking care of people's health.

Focus on solving hospital overload

Accordingly, the health sector has focused on many solutions such as perfecting legal institutions, removing difficulties, obstacles, and bottlenecks to return medical examination and treatment to normal.

For example, laws such as the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, the Law on Health Insurance, the Law on Pharmacy, regulations on bidding for the purchase of medical equipment, supplies, medicines, etc. are prioritized and developed, submitted to all levels for promulgation and amendment.

However, she acknowledged that there is still a gap in technical expertise between regions and between upper- and lower-level hospitals, which is the cause of overload at upper-level hospitals.

Therefore, many solutions such as reviewing regulations and procedures, applying information technology, digital transformation, reducing people's waiting time, registering for medical examination and treatment online, remote medical examination and treatment, strengthening direction from central to lower levels, increasing facilities...

She cited the issue that delegates were concerned about, which was the overload of K Hospital. In fact, over the past two years, three K Hospital facilities have been put into use, with the Quan Su facility being spacious and clean.

Machinery and equipment were invested with more than 1,500 billion VND; or Bach Mai Hospital was invested with more machinery; efforts were made to put the second facility of Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc Hospital into operation.

Regarding the development and improvement of the grassroots health system and primary health care, to suit the operation of a two-level government, the Minister of Health said that he is focusing on perfecting the legal policy mechanism.

Building a national target program for health care, a resolution of the Politburo with breakthrough policies to improve the quality of primary health care, preventive medicine...

At the same time, the Ministry of Health is also focusing on removing obstacles in the issue of hospital autonomy. This year, the Government allows the Ministry of Health to implement the roadmap for calculating the correct and full price of medical services, so it will apply additional management costs, along with salary costs and general expenses.

Counterfeit drugs are not available in hospitals.

Regarding the prevention of counterfeit drugs and fake foods, the minister said that counterfeit drugs and fake foods are a serious problem worldwide. For example, in the US, each year over 600 billion USD is affected by counterfeit drugs and fake foods.

In Vietnam, recently, ministries and branches have actively reviewed the system of legal documents with drastic efforts to combat, control and prevent.

For example, the Criminal Code stipulates that violations of counterfeit drugs and fake food can be punished with the death penalty. However, she also acknowledged that reality is revealing shortcomings, and that it is necessary to review and rectify the staff system and increase inspection, control and post-control.

Accordingly, there have been many solutions that the Ministry of Health has directly advised the Prime Minister such as issuing telegrams, giving instructions and is currently submitting legal documents and decrees to complete the legal corridor. With regard to drugs and food, the impact on people's health requires the highest level of determination.

Regarding information about fake drugs in hospitals, Ms. Lan said that through bidding, all drugs entering hospitals must have a clear origin, so fake drugs are on the market, not in hospitals.

The Minister affirmed that he is coordinating with ministries and branches in managing and preventing fake drugs, fake food, and advertising.

Therefore, the three recent cases such as fake drugs discovered in Thanh Hoa, Kera candy of Hang Du Muc or fake cosmetics in Dong Nai were all discovered by the Ministry of Health, coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security and transferred to the Ministry of Public Security for investigation. This demonstrates the determination of the Ministry of Health in preventing fake drugs and fake foods.

In response to the situation of many doctors and medical staff being opposed and assaulted as mentioned by some delegates, the Minister expressed his hope that localities would protect medical staff and workers no differently than those on duty. In fact, there are regulations prohibiting acts of assault against medical staff, but in practice, they still occur.

“In emergency areas, the medical team must look at the patients and prioritize those with critical vital signs. But the family members think the doctors don’t care.

For example, a patient in Nghe An, one person went to the clinic and 6-7 people followed, making noise and causing outrage. Therefore, in cases like this that occur in any locality, the authorities should participate, protect medical staff, and strictly handle violations to deter others," Ms. Lan said.

Back to topic

NGOC AN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bo-truong-dao-hong-lan-noi-ve-qua-tai-benh-vien-vu-thuoc-gia-keo-kera-cua-hang-du-muc-20250618101729815.htm