Among them, the most important information is: The number of people with diseases, especially cancer, in Vietnam is increasing and the treatment capacity is not uniform between hospital levels and between localities.
When lower levels have not met the needs, patients naturally turn to large hospitals, even in cases that can be completely treated locally.
Therefore, to reduce the burden on upper-level hospitals, first of all, it is necessary to make the grassroots level strong enough.
But a strong grassroots hospital cannot only be assessed by infrastructure, the number of machinery and equipment that has been invested. Because modern equipment only works effectively when there are doctors with sufficient operating capacity, well-trained technicians, supportive testing and diagnostic systems, stable sources of drugs and supplies.
Therefore, technical transfer needs to be carried out according to a complete package, from human resource training, process guidance, complication treatment support to equipment maintenance. Upper-level hospitals not only transfer one technique and then withdraw, but must continue to accompany, consult and check treatment quality regularly and long-term.
Going along with that is preferential policies, a job environment that is strong enough to attract and retain good doctors in the locality. It is impossible to expect grassroots levels to master specialized techniques if doctors have to work in conditions of lack of equipment, low income and few career development opportunities.
Reducing overload cannot be separated from disease prevention and early detection. For example, with cancer, if people are screened right from the grassroots level, the disease can be detected at an early stage, reducing costs and improving treatment effectiveness.
Conversely, when most patients only come to the hospital at a late stage, the pressure on specialized centers will continue to increase. Finally, the most important factor is the patient's trust. In reality, many people accept going beyond the line, even though they know it will be costly and they will have to wait, because they believe that large hospitals have better doctors and better facilities, and their chances of survival and recovery are higher.
To change this mentality, there is no other way but for grassroots hospitals to prove their capacity with practical medical examination and treatment quality.
At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that referrals take place quickly when they exceed the treatment capacity, and not let patients be kept for achievements or have to find their own way to higher levels.
When people truly trust and go to hospitals near their homes, instead of having to bring dossiers and worries to upper-level hospitals, to big cities, then the problem of reducing the burden on upper-level hospitals will truly have a solution.
