On the morning of June 18, at the discussion session on socio-economics and the State budget, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan explained and clarified a number of opinions raised by National Assembly deputies.
Regarding the issue of improving the quality of medical examination and treatment, the Minister of Health said that this is one of the top important contents identified by the industry.
Currently, there is a difference in technical expertise cap between regions, between upper and lower levels. According to the Minister, this is one of the reasons for overload at upper-level hospitals. The Ministry has also issued many consultation solutions to reduce the load on the upper route and improve the quality of the lower route.
The Minister of Health added that in the discussion session yesterday afternoon (January 17), National Assembly deputies raised the overload situation at K Central Hospital.
According to the Minister, in the past 2 years, the hospital has also tried very hard, with the support of the Ministry, up to this point, 3 facilities of K Hospital have been put into operation. In particular, the K Hospital, Quan Su Hospital, is also very spacious and clean.
Regarding equipment and machinery, in 2 years, the hospital has also received an investment of more than 1,500 billion VND, including state funding, international cooperation, and the hospital's career development fund. From now until the end of the year, the machines will also be increased to serve the needs of patients.
The Ministry of Health is focusing on reviewing and implementing necessary steps to put into operation the second facility of a number of hospitals that have been backlogged in the past, such as Bach Mai Hospital, Facility 2, and Viet Duc Hospital, Facility 2, with the goal of completing the remaining work from now until the end of the year.
At the end of the discussion session, the Minister of Health also informed about the issue of preventing fake medicine. The Minister said that this content has received much attention and comments from National Assembly deputies.
From the perspective of the health sector, the Minister said that even in the world, the situation of fake drugs and fake functional foods is a burning issue not only in Vietnam but globally.
According to US statistics, the world loses about 600 billion USD/year due to fake drugs and fake functional foods.
Vietnam has been very active in preventing and combating counterfeit drugs, with sanctions ranging from prison to death for the act of producing counterfeit drugs. However, in the past, there were still issues that needed to be reviewed and rectify, from perfecting the legal system to rectifying the staff. Inspection, examination and post-inspection work also need to be focused on" - the Minister said.
In the past, the Ministry of Health has directly advised the Prime Minister and the Government to issue many documents and telegrams to direct. On the other hand, urgently review and amend legal documents and decrees to complete the legal corridor.
The Ministry's viewpoint is that for drugs and food, issues that directly affect people's health, need to be resolutely handled at the highest level.
The Minister also affirmed that currently, through the bidding system, all drugs entering the hospital must have a legal origin. Counterfeit drugs mainly appear on the market, not in hospitals.
The Minister said that the Ministry of Health is closely coordinating with the National Steering Committee 389 (Standing Ministry of Finance), the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (advertising) and the Ministry of Public Security to resolve related issues, including the prevention of fake drugs and fake functional foods.
The three recent highlights related to fake drugs and functional foods in Thanh Hoa, Hang Du Muc's Kera candy and fake cosmetics in Dong Nai were all discovered by the Ministry of Health and investigated in coordination with the Ministry of Public Security, demonstrating the determination of the Ministry of Health - Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan emphasized.
