Patients complain about lack of medicine and supplies, Ministry of Health says it does not listen to hospital reports

Many patients have reported a shortage of medicines and supplies at some hospitals. Health Ministry leaders said they have not received any reports from hospitals about this situation.

People have to buy medicine and supplies from outside when hospitals lack medicine and supplies - Illustration: DUONG LIEU

No hospital has reported a shortage of drugs or supplies.

Responding to Tuoi Tre Online at a press conference on December 20 about people's complaints that there is still a shortage of medicine and supplies at some hospitals in Hanoi, including Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, Central Endocrinology Hospital..., Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that problems in purchasing and bidding for medicine and medical supplies are a difficult problem that cannot be solved in a day or two.

Recently, the Ministry of Health has also issued many documents and regulations so that hospitals can make purchases.

Regarding the report of a shortage of medicine and medical supplies at some hospitals, Ms. Lan said the Ministry of Health had worked with the hospital on this issue.

"Currently, the Ministry of Health has not received any reports from any hospital about the shortage of drugs or medical supplies. Regarding the shortage of drugs at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital and the Central Endocrinology Hospital, we will ask the hospital directors to report soon, to clearly understand the cause of the drug shortage and how to solve this problem," Ms. Lan affirmed.

Ms. Lan added that the goal of the Ministry of Health is to listen to feedback to fundamentally solve the problem of drug shortages, helping people avoid difficulties and hardships when going to the doctor and being short of medicine and supplies.

In addition to the regulations on bidding and purchasing, Ms. Lan also said that the recently passed amended Law on Health Insurance has provisions allowing the transfer of drugs and medical supplies between one unit and another to still be covered by insurance.

This mechanism will facilitate hospitals and the health sector from central to local levels to ensure that when needed, medicines and medical supplies are immediately available to patients.

In addition, the law also has provisions for payment in cases where people have to buy rare drugs outside. Although the mechanism exists, hospitals still need to ensure drugs and medical supplies, avoid people having to go out to buy drugs, and ensure the quality of treatment.

Many hospitals have secured medicines and medical supplies.

The Minister of Health said that over the past two years, the Ministry of Health has coordinated with ministries and branches to advise the Government to amend and issue many decrees and circulars, which have removed many difficulties in procurement and bidding.

"In terms of legal basis to ensure the procurement and bidding of drugs and medical supplies, it basically meets the requirements. Many hospitals ensure basic drugs and medical supplies for the people.

For example, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital buys hundreds of packages worth thousands of billions of dong each year, but the hospital has established a department specializing in bidding, with people experienced in finance and planning, directly supporting the departments, very professionally.

For example, Duc Giang General Hospital (Hanoi) has solved 95% of the problem of drug supply for patients, the remaining 5% is the problem of rotating the bidding package that has not reached the deadline. Or the supply is not yet available, but the hospital can still solve it because there are other alternative drugs, ensuring safety for patients," Ms. Lan cited.

However, the minister also said that in addition to the policy mechanism, the important thing is the implementation in hospitals. Hospitals must comply with the law but also need to be flexible and proactive.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-benh-keu-thieu-thuoc-vat-tu-bo-y-te-bao-khong-nghe-benh-vien-bao-cao-20241221144728015.htm