Patients lack medicine ‘because Cho Ray hospital is slow to bid’
HanoiVietnam Social Insurance believes that Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC) is slow in bidding, causing patients to lack medicine.
At a press conference on the afternoon of April 28, Mr. Le Van Phuc, Head of the Health Insurance Policy Implementation Department, Vietnam Insurance, said that the procurement and bidding for drugs is divided into three levels. At the national level, the Ministry of Health shall conduct centralized bidding for a number of drugs according to the list; local centralized bidding at the provincial level by the Department of Health; Medical facilities under the Ministry of Health such as Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC) are decentralized to self-bid. With bidding packages over 5 billion approved by the Ministry of Health, below the above level is decided by the hospital if it is financially self-sufficient.
“The slow bidding is the responsibility of the medical examination and treatment facility,” said Mr. Phuc.
Mr. Le Van Phuc, Head of Vietnam Social Insurance Policy Implementation Committee, at a press conference on the afternoon of April 28. Image: Hong Chieu
He explained, when the drugs are almost out, medical examination and treatment establishments must develop plans and organize bidding. Current regulations specify that Social Insurance participates in the bidding process and regularly advises Departments of Health and hospitals when the old bidding package is about to expire, developing a plan for the new bidding round. The preparation process usually lasts several months, if December expires, then June – July must be planned.
Vietnam Social Security will direct the Ho Chi Minh City Social Security and Cho Ray Hospital to conduct bidding for drugs for patients participating in health insurance, to avoid drug shortages, to appoint patients to go out to buy high-priced drugs. the payment is difficult, not in accordance with regulations.
About 10 days ago, Cho Ray Hospital run out of some drugs In the list of covered health insurance, many kidney transplant patients have to buy medicine from outside, costing 6-15 million VND, while if it is paid for by insurance, the patient only costs 100,000 VND.
Dr. Pham Thanh Viet, Head of General Planning Department, Cho Ray Hospital, said that these drugs belong to the national bidding group for drug procurement. The shortage of drugs for kidney transplant patients is due to the slow waiting time for drug bidding results. In the immediate future, the hospital prepares documents for direct procurement of about 20% of the drugs, and is expected to have drugs for patients in a few days. The remaining drugs will be auctioned openly, about 15 days later.
The patient’s drug bill from a pharmacy outside the hospital. Image: Provided by the patient
Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance and Cho Ray Hospital will soon have a plan to avoid affecting patient benefits. When the medicine cannot be supplied in time, the hospital will transfer the patient to another facility that has the drug such as People 115, University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, the lack of specific drugs to prevent kidney transplant rejection only occurs in Cho Ray because the number of patients monitored here is large, other hospitals do not have this situation.
Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance has sent a written request to Cho Ray Hospital to quickly organize the selection of contractors to promptly supply the above drugs and regularly review the drug supply situation to ensure enough drugs.
Hong Chieu
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here
