Hanoi (VNA) - Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien talks with ThoiBao Kinh Te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) about projects to build morehospitals and provide better services for patients.  

Reporter: Could you tell us about the project of building five hospitals in HCMCity?

Minister: The project of building five hospitals in HCM City was approved underdecision 125/QD-TTg in 2014. Under the project, the Ministry of Health wasassigned to build two hospitals of Viet Duc and Bach Mai branches while theMinistry of National Defence was in charge of building a hospital of traumatologyand orthopedics, and the HCM City’s People’s Committee was designated to buildbranch of the city’s Tumor Hospital and Children’s Hospital.

The 1,000-bed Children’s Hospital was put into operation last year. 

The other four hospitals are expected to complete construction and be put intooperation later this year.

Since opening, the Children’s Hospital has offered health care services to manypatients in the southern region.

The four hospitals, with 3,500 beds in total and modern equipment, willcontribute to improving healthcare for local people.

Reporter: Along with the five hospitals, are there any other projects carriedout with Government bonds’ capital?

Minister: In the 2016-2020 period, capital from Government bonds will be usedfor building eight central-level hospitals and general hospitals in theprovinces of Son La, Binh Phuoc, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Dong Thap and KienGiang.

This year, the ministry has proposed the Government to provide funding for 5projects, including building a tumour centre for Hospital E, expanding theNational Hospital of Tropical Diseases - Phase 2, building a branch of theNational Geriatric Hospital, a building traumatology and orthopedics hospitalin Can Tho city, and an Endocrinology Hospital in HCM City.

The projects are very important at this moment in aiming to reduce overcrowdingin hospitals and improve healthcare services as well.

Central-level hospitals also act as training centres for health workers ofhospitals in cities and provinces.

Reporter: What should the healthcare sector do to develop further and realisethe priority of caring for people’s health?

Minister: To develop the healthcare sector, it is necessary to further provideservices from grassroots hospitals and clinics people can easily access goodservices and ensure social welfare.

Some basic solutions are to expand community healthcare across the country,provide medicines and services suitable with the financial capability of theState budget, medical insurance fund and people, and reform financialmechanisms such as offer self-dependant financial status to hospitals, and toapply a hospital management model as public-benefit business.

Besides, it is essential to promote medical insurance provided to all people,especially the poor and elderly.-VNA