HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Many hospitals in HCM City are continuing tooffer home-based medical examinations and treatment that began during the firstCOVID-19 outbreak.

The city Department of Health earlier this year had instructed hospitals toprovide home-based medical services for people over 60 years old.

Many hospitals are continuing the service, even though there has been notcommunity-transmitted COVID-19 case in the city in the last 54 days.

Many seniors prefer the service since they do not have to travel and can calland ask for a doctor and nurse to come to their home.

A 90-year-old woman's grandchild, for example, called District 11 Hospital toregister for the home-based service since the family was still worried aboutthe pandemic, and the woman, who has diabetes, hypertension and a vestibulardisorder, could not easily travel to the hospital.

At 9am on September 3, Dr Pham Hoang Dung from the hospital’s general internalmedicine department and a nurse visited her house. After an examination, Dung prescribedmedicine and made an appointment with her grandchild to visit the hospital tobuy the medicine.

Le Hoang Anh Vu, the grandchild, said: “After I heard about the service, Iimmediately registered. Two days later, the doctor came to my house to examineher. Her examination and treatment was covered by health insurance.”

In another case, a 70-year-old woman from Thu Duc district who had a bonefracture could not visit Thu Duc District Hospital for an examination as shehad done previously. She has diabetes and hypertension and needs to be examinedevery two weeks.

The woman’s grandchild called Thu Duc District Hospital to register for itshome-based service and a doctor and nurse came to her home. 

“I didn't have to wait at the hospital for my turn,” the woman said.

Dr Hoang Van Dung, deputy head of the general planning division at Thu Duc  Hospital, said the hospital was following theMinistry of Health's instruction to offer home-based services.

Fifty-two health facilities, including 22 district hospitals, in HCM City areproviding the service.

Thong Nhat Hospital, however, has provided the service since 2015. The hospitalhas nearly 20 doctors in charge of visiting patients’ homes.

When COVID-19 first broke out, demand for the service increased by 30-40 percentcompared to previous months, according to the hospital.

Ho Thuong Dung, deputy head of Thong Nhat Hospital, said that patients,especially those aged 60 and over, should limit going to crowded areas likehospitals.

Besides home-based treatments, telemedicine is being used effectively atseveral health facilities such as the Go Vap District Health Centre andDistrict 2 Hospital.

Tang Chi Thuong, deputy director of the city Department of Health, said theseservices have helped to reduce overloading at hospitals and hospital-acquiredinfections./.