Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has emphasised the importance ofa public private partnership (PPP) model to raising healthcare qualityand reduce overloads at public hospitals.

In her openingremarks at a conference in Hanoi on March 14, Tien said her ministry isworking out various projects to reduce the burden on hospitals atcentral and grassroots levels, focusing on increasing the number ofpatient beds, satellite hospitals, family doctors and technologytransfers from public to private hospitals.

The majority ofthe country’s 170 private hospitals (out of a total of 1,200 hospitals)are equipped with modern equipment and qualified medical workers, butless than 60 percent of their patient beds have been used, according tothe ministry’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment (DMET).

Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the DMET, said the partnership shouldbe established on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, sharedresponsibility and transparency within its legal framework.

Hementioned possible collaboration in moving patients for treatment atwell-equipped private hospitals from public hospitals, and encouragedprivate ones to upgrade their facilities and raise the capabilities ofdoctors and health workers as well as enhance their involvement in thesystem of satellite hospitals.

At the event, a representativefrom the private VINMEC International Hospital suggested theministry facilitate professional exchanges between doctors from publicand private hospitals and grant work permits for foreign doctors topractise at private hospitals.-VNA