After the Ministry of Health issued many documents to remove problems in bidding and purchasing medical supplies, hospitals were able to buy more drugs, limiting the situation of patients having to buy drugs outside. However, drug shortages are still common, especially drugs and medical supplies on the list covered by the Health Insurance Fund. It is unacceptable for patients with health insurance to have to spend money to buy medicine because the hospital lacks medicine. The health "insurance" policy for people no longer has the meaning and purpose as set out.
To solve the shortage of drugs and medical supplies, according to the analysis of managers and medical experts, two conditions need to be fulfilled well.
Firstly, continue to improve legal regulations to remove remaining obstacles, so that medical facilities can bid faster; Ensure legal safety so that responsible people can feel secure in doing their tasks. However, the development of appropriate policies and implementation is still slow, while life demands urgency and cannot hesitate. The patient's health and life cannot wait forever for meetings. It is known that in October 2023, the Ministry of Health will develop a circular providing guidance according to the provisions of Article 31 of the Health Insurance Law to handle cases where patients go for medical examination at medical facilities without medicine. , but it hasn't been finished for nearly a year.
Second, medical facilities and localities must be proactive in bidding and purchasing drugs and medical supplies, ensuring enough drugs to treat patients. Being proactive must start with planning, forecasting, and bidding planning, not letting the water get to your feet before jumping. In fact, in many places leaders are afraid of responsibility, keep citing reasons for problems, and do not do their best in bidding. For your own safety, leaving patients without medicine is not ethical for a physician.
If you want medical facilities to be proactive, it is not just a call, but the Ministry of Health must have sanctions. Any basis for drug shortages to occur, affecting the quality of treatment, causing patients to be upset, should be considered and handled with responsibility.
