From worrying about costs to the joy of free medical examinations for workers
In recent days, many low-income workers in Ho Chi Minh City have received free specialized health care thanks to the city's expanded health check-up program.
Ms. Le Thi Ut (Binh Co ward) quietly queued to wait for her turn to be examined. Her face was tired but still radiated with excitement when she was supported by the trade union and businesses to be taken for free medical examination.
Ms. Ut said that working as a janitor with a salary of about 6 - 7 million VND per month, she has to save every expense to raise her children. For many years, her health has declined, affecting her work as well. She suffers from heart ischemia, often has pain in her hands and feet, so she has to go for regular check-ups every month and take medicine regularly every day. However, going for external check-ups is both costly and takes a lot of waiting time, making life, which is already difficult, even more stressful.
Today, I was supported by the Trade Union to go for a free medical examination, so I am very happy. I will have my heart checked, blood tests and osteoporosis measured fully. When I am sick a lot, living expenses must be sparing, and meals must also be cut to save money for room when sick. Now being cared for and supported by the Trade Union and the company like this, I feel very warm and more reassured," Ms. Ut shared.
Sharing the joy of having a free health check-up, Ms. Huynh Bich Thanh - a worker working at My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park, said that she came very early to register for medical examination. According to Ms. Thanh, due to the nature of her regular overtime work, many workers do not have the conditions to go for periodic health check-ups.
Getting free medical examinations is very meaningful for us workers. Many people are in difficult circumstances, if they go for medical examinations themselves, it will be costly, so they are often reluctant to go. The free health check-up program helps workers feel more secure about their health" - Ms. Thanh shared.
Ho Chi Minh City workers receive free health check-ups right at businesses
According to Mr. Tang Chi Thuong - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, the city's free periodic health check-up policy is applied to Vietnamese citizens actually living in Ho Chi Minh City, including people with permanent and temporary residence registration, whose residence information is verified through the national database and the VNeID application.
Among the group of 6 subjects prioritized for free periodic health check-ups, there are workers who are examined at workplaces or at medical examination and treatment facilities where employers sign contracts with health examination facilities," Mr. Tang Chi Thuong added.
In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City health sector coordinates with the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation to implement the program "Healthcare for 1 million union members and workers in the City". The program takes place from now until the end of September 30 with many free medical examination, consultation, and screening activities.
The health check-up program will be organized flexibly right at businesses, industrial parks, export processing zones or at qualified medical facilities and hospitals, prioritizing organization outside office hours, on Saturdays and Sundays. This is to create the most favorable conditions for workers as well as not affect the production activities of enterprises.
The program will prioritize female union members, workers working in heavy, hazardous environments, people who have not had periodic health check-ups for 12 months; union members, workers in difficult circumstances, and direct production workers.
Workers are clinically examined, tested, X-rayed, consulted on disease prevention, early detection of occupational diseases and non-communicable diseases. For cases of disease detection, they will be consulted and introduced to specialized hospitals for treatment.
At the same time, health data of employees will be updated into the electronic health record system.
