No smoking for living and working environment

Binh Thuan Provincial Dermatology Hospital builds a smoke-free environment to create a healthy and comfortable environment for everyone. This contributes to improving the satisfaction of patients and medical staff in health care activities for the people.

Recognized as a "smoke-free unit" twice

Binh Thuan Provincial Dermatology Hospital was recognized as a "smoke-free unit" by the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund ( Ministry of Health ). That was the first time in 2019, the second time in 2022. According to regulations, there are 19 criteria to evaluate smoke-free units. Only units that achieve 72/100 points and comply with the mandatory criteria of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention will be recognized as "smoke-free units".

*"Smoke-free unit" certificate at Binh Thuan Provincial Dermatology Hospital.*

According to the assessment of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, this hospital achieved a perfect score of 100/100 points, there was no smoking in the hospital; no cigarette butts, cigarette packs, lighters, ashtrays... were recorded in the hospital. The monitoring team commented: Binh Thuan Provincial Dermatology Hospital has paid attention to tobacco harm prevention activities, established a steering committee, has an annual plan, regularly organizes monitoring sessions in the hospital campus, and organizes the signing of a commitment to compete in building a smoke-free environment.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung - Deputy Director in charge of Binh Thuan Province Dermatology Hospital shared: Building a smoke-free environment combined with people's knowledge about the harmful effects of tobacco is also understood. Therefore, most of the patients coming to the Dermatology Hospital do not smoke. However, some patients and their relatives still smoke, but when reminded by security guards and staff of the departments, they comply well. A smoke-free environment creates a healthy and comfortable environment for those who are inherently passive smokers; contributing to improving treatment effectiveness, improving the satisfaction of patients and staff in health care activities.

*Examination Department at Binh Thuan Provincial Dermatology Hospital*

Specific methods

Right at the entrance of Binh Thuan Dermatology Hospital is a board of regulations as well as penalties for violations of smoking in the unit and there are no exceptions. Specifically, civil servants and employees who violate the law for the first time will be directly reminded, the second time will be recorded with a fine of cleaning the hospital, the third time or more will be recorded with a reduction in the emulation and reward ranking. Patients, relatives of patients and customers who violate the law for the first time will be directly reminded, the second time will refuse to work and schedule a work date for the next time, the third time or more will be recorded and refuse to work.

Ms. Le Thi Kim Hong - an employee of the General Planning Department of the Dermatology Hospital, shared: The hospital's Tobacco Harm Prevention Steering Committee directs the implementation of monitoring work right from the hospital gate and departments. When seeing someone preparing to smoke, the staff must remind them. If they are smoking, they are asked to put out their cigarette. Working in a smoke-free environment creates a feeling of comfort, and is also a good motivation to advise and encourage patients and their families not to smoke. Ms. Hong added: "When I go to other public places, if I see someone smoking, I proactively talk to them and encourage them to limit smoking in public to help everyone and the smoker themselves have a smoke-free environment that does not affect their health."

Knowing it's harmful but still smoking
Dr. Tran Duan - Deputy Director of Binh Thuan Provincial Lung Hospital said: Smoking causes respiratory cancer and other organs, skin aging, cardiovascular diseases and stroke. However, many people still have the habit of smoking even though they know that smoking is harmful to health. Smoking increases the incidence of diseases and increases treatment costs compared to normal patients. For example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the main cause of smoking, increasing the cost of treatment per day in bed, as well as increasing costs for the patient's caregiver.

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