On January 27, in an exchange with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, Dr. Ho Giang Nam - Director of Nghe An Mental Hospital said that he had grasped information reflecting many cases of mentally ill patients showing abnormal signs in Xuan Lam commune.
After grasping the information and implementing the direction of the Director of the Department of Health, the Hospital has issued a document deploying working groups to inspect, verify and clarify" - Dr. Ho Giang Nam said.
Previously, mass media reported on the situation showing signs of abnormality in Xuan Lam commune (Nghe An province), where hundreds of people were identified as mental patients and enjoyed allowances.
This has raised public suspicion. According to reflections, many people on this list, although confirmed to have neurological and mental disabilities, still live normally, work, trade and participate in social activities without signs of mental disorder. Some people have even refused allowances and returned books to the local authorities.
To clarify the above information, Nghe An Mental Hospital decided to deploy inspection and verification at health stations in Xuan Lam commune and neighboring communes. This work was carried out under the direction of the Director of Nghe An Department of Health, in order to re-examine the examination process and issue outpatient treatment books for mental patients in Xuan Lam commune.
The General Planning Department of the Hospital will review the list of all inpatient and outpatient patients in Xuan Lam commune. The medical records of these patients will be compiled and reported to the Board of Directors with detailed information: patient name, hometown, year of birth, date of first hospitalization, first diagnosis, day of discharge, day of re-examination, and direct treating doctor.
At the same time, Nghe An Mental Hospital has also established a working delegation led by Dr. Tran Thi Tuyet, Deputy Director of the Hospital. The working delegation will coordinate with Thanh Chuong Medical Center and Xuan Lam Commune People's Committee to work directly and inspect related issues. Specifically, the delegation will clarify whether mental patients are diagnosed and receive allowances in the locality, to ensure that policies are implemented for the right subjects.
To ensure that the examination and treatment process is carried out accurately, Nghe An Mental Hospital also requires clinical departments to seriously comply with professional regulations. In particular, the hospital requires doctors to improve their responsibility in examination, diagnosis and determination of mental illness, ensuring accurate, objective diagnosis and compliance with the regulations of the Ministry of Health.
Local leaders and functional agencies have also been requested to coordinate to review all dossiers and procedures for granting allowances, in order to avoid budget waste and ensure social justice.
