Dong Nai province is estimated to require more than VND140 billion, or US$ 6.7 million, to upgrade three provincial hospitals as satellites for major hospitals in HCM City.
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Dong Nai province is estimated to require more than VND140 billion, or US$ 6.7 million, to upgrade three provincial hospitals as satellites for major hospitals in HCM City.
In 2013, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and the Health Ministry had approved a plan to develop 15 satellite hospitals nationwide until 2020, of which three are located in Dong Nai, an industrial hub.
These three hospitals are Dong Nai General Hospital, Thong Nhat General Hospital and Dong Nai Hospital for Children.
According to the provincial Health Department, VND140 billion is required to develop infrastructure, facilities and conduct staff training.
After they become satellite hospitals, they will support major hospitals in HCM City including Cho Ray Hospital, Oncology Hospital and Hospital for Children No 2.
They are expected to have facilities to conduct surgeries of the brain, the backbone, cardiovascular region and the heart, and paediatric brain surgeries.
Thus, they can reduce the number of patients being transferred to HCM City.
However, the authorities of the three hospitals said that they could hardly afford the funding.
Director of Dong Nai General Hospital Phan Huy Anh Vu said that the hospital had trained staff and mastered techniques to deal with more complicated treatment and surgeries.
But these treatments and surgeries are not included in the list of services that the health insurance fund covers, he said, explaining why such services are yet to be offered at the hospital.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Tri said that to ensure the steady pace of the satellite hospitals' project, the provincial authorities would help the hospitals access preferential loans.
The hospitals would pay the interest while the province would pay the capital.
The provincial authority would work with the health insurance office to find solutions to the relevant issues soon, he said.
(Source: VNS)
