The Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health) has just requested the Thanh Hoa Provincial Department of Health to verify information from some press agencies reflecting on the use of vasopressors, drug costs and transportation services for seriously ill patients from Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital to home.
The Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management requests the Thanh Hoa Department of Health to urgently verify, rectify and handle violations if any; report the results to the Department before September 5 for coordination in handling according to regulations.
Along with clarifying the specific case, the Ministry of Health requested the Thanh Hoa Health sector to review and strengthen the management of patient transportation activities at public and non-public hospitals and out-of-hospital emergency facilities.
Medical examination and treatment facilities are required to provide information, advice, and guidance to patients and their families to choose transportation units licensed by competent authorities according to regulations.
Previously, Mr. Huynh Tu Khanh (residing in Sam Son ward, Thanh Hoa province) reflected on some costs incurred when taking his father, Mr. Huynh Ba Dong, from Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital home.
According to reports, Mr. Dong is being treated at the Intensive Care Unit I - Poison Control, Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital. Due to the serious condition, on August 14, the family asked to take the patient home and contacted an ambulance themselves for transportation.
Mr. Khanh said that there were family members of the patient in the car, one person was introduced as a doctor and the driver. When taking the patient home, the family was advised to use vasopressors to maintain the patient's life.
According to Mr. Khanh, the consultant said that this type of medicine is outside the scope of payment of health insurance, with a price of 600,000 VND/bottle. The family was advised to use 7 bottles, totaling 4.2 million VND and had paid for the medicine.
After that, the family researched at some pharmacies and said that drugs with similar ingredients were sold at lower prices. From there, the family requested functional agencies to verify the origin, type, price of drugs as well as individuals and suppliers.
In addition to the medicine money, Mr. Khanh reflected that the distance from the hospital to home is about 16km, but the family has to pay 5.3 million VND for transportation and breathing tube costs.
According to a report from Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital, Mr. Huynh Ba Dong was admitted to the hospital on August 1st in a state of septic shock, multiple organ failure and many other medical conditions.
After a period of intensive treatment, the patient's condition was still severe, with poor treatment response. On August 14, after being consulted, counseled, and explained about the condition and prognosis, the family agreed to take the patient home and contact the means of transport themselves.
After the information reflected appeared, Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital requested the Department of Intensive Care I - Poison Control to verify; and at the same time review the treatment process, images, videos and reports of related individuals.
According to the hospital's review results, the ambulance to take the patient home was an external service vehicle contacted by the family themselves, not a vehicle of Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital.
The hospital also affirmed that the staff performing the transportation and care of patients in the car were not hospital medical staff.
Therefore, according to the explanation of Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital, the transportation of patients, the use of drugs during transportation and the expenses reflected by families are carried out by units and individuals providing external services, not belonging to transportation, supply of drugs, services or revenues managed by the hospital.
