Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc visits Dong Nai for official working session

On the morning of September 11, the Ministry of Health's delegation, led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Tri Thuc, had a working session with the Dong Nai Provincial Department of Health on implementing decentralization, delegation, and demarcation of authority in the health sector and arranging the organization of health facilities when implementing the two-tier local government model.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc speaks at the working session with the Dong Nai Provincial Department of Health. Photo: Thanh Tu

The Dong Nai Provincial Department of Health currently consists of a Board of Directors, seven specialized departments, and 39 affiliated units. The grassroots healthcare network includes 22 regional health centers, 95 commune- and ward-level health stations, and 176 satellite health posts.

The Dong Nai Department of Health has issued regulations on functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure for new units. At the same time, it has strengthened support for communal authorities in implementing the two-tier local government model through training, education, and resolving difficulties for grassroots healthcare.

Members of the Ministry of Health delegation speak at the working session. Photo: Thanh Tu

Do Thi Nguyen, Level 2 Specialist and Director of the Dong Nai Provincial Department of Health, stated that the organizational structure of the health sector has been largely stabilized following the merger between Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc. However, certain challenges remain. These include procedures for amending operating licenses for medical examination and treatment at health stations, the absence of a circular defining the functions and organizational structure of regional health centers, and difficulties in contracting village health workers due to issues related to professional qualification standards.

The Dong Nai Provincial Department of Health has proposed that the Ministry of Health promptly issue regulations on the organization and operation of regional health centers, commune-level health stations, and satellite health posts; establish a mechanism for issuing official seals to health stations; and provide guidelines on staffing norms and job positions for civil servants and public employees in the health sector. It also called for increased staffing quotas, guidance on contracting village health workers, and the implementation of appropriate allowance policies.

The Dong Nai Provincial Department of Health also requested financial support for infrastructure investment, equipment, and information technology to serve electronic medical records while resolving difficulties in health insurance settlement and building a unified software for reporting and statistics across the entire sector.

Concluding the working session, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc acknowledged the efforts of the Dong Nai health sector. At the same time, he requested the province to continue strengthening the capacity of the grassroots health system, ensuring stable, synchronized, and effective operations.

He also urged the province to actively apply information technology and digital transformation in healthcare management and service delivery, while strengthening training and professional support to improve the quality of care for the public.

By: Hanh Dung - Thanh Tu

Translated by: Mai Nga - Minho