Vietnam Ministry Orders Supervision of Privatized Services in Hospitals

Vietnam’s Health minister has asked central and local medical facilities nationwide to review hospital services offered by private organizations and individuals, state media reported. Accordingly, hospitals must punish and terminate contracts with organizations and individuals offering hospital services that cause annoyance to patients as well as affect the quality of medical examination and treatment. The order comes in the wake of some cases reported recently in which medical facilities chose service providers and gave them certain privileges. The services, such as those providing security guards, patient transport, canteen services and solid medical waste treatment, besides dead body preservation and funeral organization, reportedly affected the prestige of doctors and hospitals. The Health Minister ordered the issue of open public bids for these services as per regulations, and asked health facilities to select service providers that maintain quality and charge reasonable prices. The rates of these services must also be publicized for the knowledge of patients, relatives of patients and medical staff. Hospitals must also work with patient transport providers to set up operation regulations, ensuring transparency, and strictly punish those who force patients to use their services Heads of medical units must take the responsibility for any violation that might hurt the legal benefits of patients, and must report the list of services being provided at their facilities to the Health Ministry. (vov.vn July 14, nhandan.com.vn July 13)