More private health facilities urged to provide assistance

More private health facilities urged to provide assistance, illustration photo. Photo: Le Toan

In early August, Thu Duc Hoan My International General Hospital announced its transformation into Hoan My COVID-19 Treatment Hospital, the first private medical facility to make the move in response to the local authorities’ call for the private healthcare sector to participate in the pandemic fight.

Hoan My Medical Corporation, the owner of the hospital, has mobilised more than 3,000 healthcare workers from its 15 hospitals and six clinics to work at the treatment hospital exclusively.

Ho Chi Minh City is the first locality in Vietnam to mobilise contributions from private healthcare facilities to the COVID-19 battle. With expertise, experience, and advanced medical devices, their contribution is expected to ease pressures for public health facilities and health professionals.

While a number of private hospitals have joined the efforts so far, such as FV Hospital, Thu Duc Hoan My International General Hospital, City International Hospital, and Xuyen A General Hospital, more contributions are required amidst worsening outbreaks.

Now, the city’s health sector is in need of official registration of the number of staff capable of resuscitation treatment and operating rebreathers from private health facilities, as well as the number of sickbeds for COVID-19 treatment so that the city can mobilise staff efficiently.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has mobilised healthcare task forces from central hospitals such as Bach Mai, Viet Duc, and Hue Central Hospital to Ho Chi Minh City to establish and operate resuscitation centres. Despite making efforts all day and night to ensure smooth operation, there are difficulties in purchasing medical supplies, sickbeds, bedsheets, and more in bulk at the same time.

In early August, at a meeting with leaders of private hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long called on them to contribute further to the pandemic prevention.

“We hope that leaders of private hospitals and other healthcare facilities join efforts with the MoH and the city by supplying medical devices, supplies, and other necessities for these centres,” Long added. “We are aware that in this fight, each should take responsibility. And for the healthcare sector, the responsibility should be higher. I deeply propose leaders of private hospitals and facilities to join more efforts in the prevention and battle against COVID-19, especially in treatment to help the city overcome this difficult time.”

Private hospitals have to mobilise their own budgets to purchase huge amounts of equipment for vaccination activities, including the ultra-low storage system and modern cold storage for vaccine preservation, as well as paying salaries to doctors and nurses and expenses for ancillary activities.

At present, the MoH is giving priority to the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to Ho Chi Minh City and is taking solutions to increase treatment efficiency. Together with the involvement of private health facilities, Vietnam is quickening production of locally-made COVID-19 vaccines.

Last week, the Vietnam Military Medical University announced that over 12,000 volunteers got two shots of Nanocovax, the first Vietnamese COVID-19 vaccine to be tested on humans, in its third clinical trial. The National Ethics Committee in Biomedical Research under the MoH was expected to gather on August 15 to assess the results.

In addition, last week Vietnam’s second homegrown COVID-19 vaccine Covivac began the second stage of clinical trials.