Rise from hardship
In the Mekong Delta region, it can be said that 2024 is a difficult year for the health sector when many provinces and cities continue to suffer from a shortage of drugs, supplies, and chemicals in public health facilities, including Dong Thap province.
Mr. Doan Tan Buu - Director of Dong Thap Province Department of Health informed that at some points, even vaccines, blood and blood products were in short supply, affecting the medical examination and treatment for people. However, with many efforts, by early 2025, this problem has been gradually resolved.
"We strive a lot from management and operation to handle bidding packages to ensure medicines, consumables, chemicals, infusion fluids, etc. At this time, although there is a shortage of equipment, it still meets the basic requirements," said Mr. Buu.
According to the Director of Dong Thap Department of Health, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the morale of doctors and medical staff has somewhat declined due to prolonged pressure. This has prompted industry leaders to implement many soft solutions to motivate and encourage workers.
A typical example is the coffee shop on the campus of the Department, affectionately called “medical ethics coffee” by many people, held every Wednesday. Here, doctors will receive encouragement, and share experiences and good practices to improve the quality of treatment and health care for the people.
The coffee shop also has a separate area for representatives of medical units and facilities to ask for opinions and directly receive feedback from the Department's leaders on administrative and medical problems, including bidding for drugs and medical supplies.
Regarding salaries and allowances, in 2024, Dong Thap province will ensure the living standards of medical staff. Internal spending regulations in some units have been improved thanks to the increase in patient attractiveness index. For some units that have not yet ensured financial autonomy, Dong Thap province still has a source of budget support, so that workers are not left behind.
"Recently, Dong Thap has had additional funding, spending more money on rewards and supporting medical staff on the occasion of Tet 2025, so everyone is excited. We are very happy that in 2024, the provincial health sector will gradually recover," Mr. Buu added.
Efforts to invest in primary health care
Although there have been many positive changes, according to the assessment of the health sector of Dong Thap province, grassroots health care is showing signs of decline, and some health stations have not created trust with the people.
Mr. Buu said that a commune and ward health station in the province has 9-10 staff, serving an average of 11,000-12,000 people. However, in reality, many units have not been able to attract patients well.
Therefore, in 2025 and the following years, in addition to organizing capacity building sessions, the Department of Health will focus on introducing typical health station models that are convincing enough for other units to learn from. In particular, emphasizing the communication skills of doctors towards the people.
"In the near future, the province will have models for managing non-communicable diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes at health stations.
In the orientation for the period 2026 - 2030, the health sector also receives funding to serve investment development programs, construction, procurement, especially the capacity enhancement package to promote health. We expect this to be a stepping stone, a foundation, a lever for Dong Thap's grassroots health care to continue to promote its effectiveness in the coming time" - Mr. Buu added.
