Hospitals in Hanoi have run into problems applying new hospitalfees due to unclear regulations on fee calculation and staffingshortages, according to hospital representatives.
Theincrease saw hospital fees swell fivefold from August 1 this yearfollowing a nod from the city’s People's Council on proposals from themunicipal Health Department.
Fees now range from15,000 VND (0.7 USD) for clinical examination to 6.6 million VND (300USD) for neuro-imaging services. Accordingly, the fee hike correspondswith nation-wide increases under Health Ministry Circular 04 issued lastyear.
Although the Ministry of Heath (MoH) hasrequested hospitals to hire additional medical staff to help doctorsmeet quotas of 35 patients per day, the Director of Saint Paul'sHospital, Nguyen Pham Y Nhi, said labour shortages are hampering theability to implement the regulations.
The Director ofthe Dan Phuong District Hospital , Nguyen Van Trung, saidproblems also stem from not knowing how to calculate prices for somemedical services such as post-natal haemorrhages.
Echoing the sentiment, the Director of the Hanoi Hospital forObstetrics and Gynaecology, Nguyen Duy Anh, complained that currenthospital fees are still low when compared to average expenses.
Although the Ministry has legislated that second tier hospitals withspecialised wards - including the Hanoi Hospital for Lung Diseasesand the Vietnam-Cuba Hospital - can charge fees used by first tierhospitals, the municipal People's Council is yet to implement thedecision.
Hospitals have now proposed for cityauthorities to approve a list of services to shift to upper-levelhospitals, due to high pricing and irregularities.
Director of the Hanoi Department of Health Nguyen Khac Hien said hisdepartment will propose a competent body to approve the list of servicesand resolve the shortcomings of complex pricing.
Heurged hospitals to display fees clearly for patients and monitor theeffectiveness of medical staff. Hospitals are also required to reporttheir income and expenses to the department one month after applying thenew fees.
The department will continue supervision toimprove the quality of hospital care and resolve the currentshortcomings, he said.-VNA
Theincrease saw hospital fees swell fivefold from August 1 this yearfollowing a nod from the city’s People's Council on proposals from themunicipal Health Department.
Fees now range from15,000 VND (0.7 USD) for clinical examination to 6.6 million VND (300USD) for neuro-imaging services. Accordingly, the fee hike correspondswith nation-wide increases under Health Ministry Circular 04 issued lastyear.
Although the Ministry of Heath (MoH) hasrequested hospitals to hire additional medical staff to help doctorsmeet quotas of 35 patients per day, the Director of Saint Paul'sHospital, Nguyen Pham Y Nhi, said labour shortages are hampering theability to implement the regulations.
The Director ofthe Dan Phuong District Hospital , Nguyen Van Trung, saidproblems also stem from not knowing how to calculate prices for somemedical services such as post-natal haemorrhages.
Echoing the sentiment, the Director of the Hanoi Hospital forObstetrics and Gynaecology, Nguyen Duy Anh, complained that currenthospital fees are still low when compared to average expenses.
Although the Ministry has legislated that second tier hospitals withspecialised wards - including the Hanoi Hospital for Lung Diseasesand the Vietnam-Cuba Hospital - can charge fees used by first tierhospitals, the municipal People's Council is yet to implement thedecision.
Hospitals have now proposed for cityauthorities to approve a list of services to shift to upper-levelhospitals, due to high pricing and irregularities.
Director of the Hanoi Department of Health Nguyen Khac Hien said hisdepartment will propose a competent body to approve the list of servicesand resolve the shortcomings of complex pricing.
Heurged hospitals to display fees clearly for patients and monitor theeffectiveness of medical staff. Hospitals are also required to reporttheir income and expenses to the department one month after applying thenew fees.
The department will continue supervision toimprove the quality of hospital care and resolve the currentshortcomings, he said.-VNA
