Protecting, caring for, and improving public health remains a priority policy of the Party and the State. In Dong Nai, alongside continued investment in infrastructure, human resources, and specialized medical techniques, the healthcare sector is steadily advancing the goal of ensuring equity in medical examination and treatment.
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| A doctor at Hoan My Dong Nai Hospital examines a pediatric patient. Photo: Hanh Dung. |
This is intended to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare services appropriate to their healthcare needs, regardless of their place of residence, economic circumstances, or medical examination and treatment category.
Putting patients at the center of healthcare services
As one of the city's two specialized medical facilities, Dong Nai General Hospital receives between 3,000 and 4,000 outpatient visits and treats approximately 1,000 inpatients each day.
According to Specialist Level II Doctor Le Thi Phuong Tram, Deputy Director of Dong Nai General Hospital, every patient arriving at the hospital is received in accordance with standard professional procedures, regardless of whether they are covered by health insurance. This principle of fairness extends from the admissions process to treatment. Using specialized medical techniques, doctors determine the priority for intervention based on the severity of each patient's condition.
Dr. Vo Tuan Anh, Head of the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department at Dong Nai General Hospital, said all patients are triaged according to their clinical condition and risk level, enabling doctors to develop appropriate treatment plans rather than relying on any other criteria. For patients without health insurance, doctors and nurses provide counseling to encourage enrollment, helping reduce their financial burden.
Tran Thi Kim Tai, from Tan Trieu Ward, said that after being diagnosed with coronary artery stenosis and undergoing surgery, she clearly experienced the dedication of the doctors and nurses at Dong Nai General Hospital. Within only a few days, her health had improved significantly.
Narrowing the gap in access to medical services
Alongside the public healthcare system, the city's network of private hospitals and clinics is making an important contribution to promoting equitable access to healthcare. The growing number of private medical facilities provides residents with additional healthcare options while helping ease pressure on public hospitals.
At private medical facilities, all patients receive care in accordance with the same professional procedures, regardless of whether they pay directly for services or use health insurance. Specialist Level II Doctor Tran Van Thuan, Medical Director of Hoan My Dong Nai Hospital, said the hospital serves both health insurance and self-paying patients, but medical examination and treatment are always based on patients' needs, with no difference in service attitude or professional quality.
In addition to investing in modern equipment, private hospitals are accelerating the application of digital technology and information technology in appointment registration, payment, and laboratory result management, helping shorten waiting times and improve the patient experience.
At the Tam Phuoc General Clinic System, headquartered in An Phuoc Commune, the motto of "Medical ethics as the foundation, patients as the center" is reflected through standardized service prices, transparent health insurance procedures, and appointment registration using chip-based citizen identification cards, VNeID, and VssID, helping reduce patient waiting times.
Bui Thi Ngan, Operations Director of the Tam Phuoc General Clinic System, said the unit is strengthening cooperation with higher-level hospitals and medical specialists in Ho Chi Minh City to improve the quality of care, enabling residents to access specialized medical techniques locally rather than traveling long distances.
At the grassroots level, regional health centers and health stations continue to serve as accessible points of care, enabling residents to receive medical examination and treatment for common illnesses within their local communities, thereby saving time and travel expenses while helping reduce overcrowding at higher-level hospitals. Many facilities have introduced smart medical kiosks, improved examination procedures, and developed green, clean, and pleasant healthcare environments.
However, some facilities continue to face considerable difficulties, particularly doctor shortages at certain health stations, especially in remote areas. This poses a barrier to expanding health insurance-covered medical examination and treatment services at the grassroots level.
To address these challenges, health centers have proactively strengthened training and enhanced the professional capacity of medical staff. At the same time, they have proposed stronger policies to attract doctors to work at the grassroots level and to implement the rotation and secondment of doctors from higher-level facilities to support localities facing personnel shortages.
Specialist Level I Doctor Ho Van Hoai, Director of the Vinh Cuu Regional Health Center, said equity in healthcare is not only about ensuring that everyone has access to services but also about ensuring that patients receive appropriate professional treatment, are treated with respect, and receive care delivered with the highest sense of responsibility. He added that the center is strengthening cooperation with Thong Nhat General Hospital to provide training and transfer specialized medical techniques, thereby gradually improving the quality of treatment at the grassroots level.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Hue, Manager of the Pediatrics and Neonatology Department at Hoan My Dong Nai Hospital, said that for patients in remote areas or those facing special circumstances, medical staff always devote additional time to explaining patients' medical conditions and treatment methods so that they and their families can better understand the treatment process. This helps foster closer cooperation between patients and medical staff throughout treatment.
By Hanh Dung – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho
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