absent patient
On the morning of February 12, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters were present at Nghe An Dermatology Hospital (130 Le Hong Phong, Hung Binh Ward, Vinh City) to record the activities there.
Even during office hours, the hospital was very deserted. The patient reception desk on the first floor was almost empty, while on the second floor, there were less than 10 people waiting to check in. Many of the hospital rooms were closed, and some were still sealed.
Some staff working at the patient reception desk on the first floor said they have been unpaid for 11 months, making life extremely difficult. “We are so tired, going to work without salary, while our families have many things to worry about. Many people have marital problems because of this. We hope that our superiors will soon pay attention and resolve our salary regime,” a medical staff shared.
On February 12, speaking with reporters, Mr. Tran Minh Tue - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Health, in charge of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital, said that the hospital currently has 33 permanent staff and 8 seconded staff.
Eight seconded personnel sent by units are still being paid in full, while 33 permanent hospital staff are owed salaries for 11 months of 2024.
“The lives of officials and civil servants are very difficult, but we are trying every way to maintain the hospital's operations. Establishing a provincial-level specialized hospital is not easy, so we are trying our best to maintain it. But if we dissolve the hospital, it is too simple,” said Mr. Tran Minh Tue.
Currently, the hospital is completing procedures to sign a health insurance medical examination and treatment contract and completing documents to put the hospital pharmacy into operation.
According to Mr. Tran Minh Tue, if the salary arrears situation continues, it will cause more difficulties for the hospital's staff, but he has not given a specific time when this salary arrears will be resolved.
Difficulties piled up
Nghe An Dermatology Hospital is currently lacking key personnel, including the Director, Deputy Director and Chief Accountant. In addition, the hospital also faces many shortcomings in its operations such as not yet implementing inpatient treatment, not yet signing a health insurance contract, not yet organizing a hospital pharmacy, the general treatment department has not yet come into operation, the quality of patient service is still limited, the revenue is not enough to cover expenses and many machines are damaged but not repaired.
Previously, leaders of Nghe An Department of Health and Nghe An Health Trade Union had met many times to find solutions to overcome difficulties, but so far there have been no positive results.
In 2023, Nghe An Department of Health concluded that Nghe An Dermatology Hospital had many violations such as creating 7 fake labor contracts, falsifying data to include in the hospital establishment project, constructing some items before winning the bid, and collecting fake money from 24,699 people for testing with a total of more than 1.6 billion VND.
To date, Mr. Huynh Phuc Son - former Director of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital, who is involved in the above violations, has resigned from his position as director, while the hospital still does not have a new director.
