Hai Duong Department of Health proposes to establish a Center for bidding and purchasing drugs and medical supplies

On the afternoon of August 23, the National Assembly Delegation of Hai Duong province supervised at the Department of Health the implementation of Resolution No. 68/2013/QH13 dated November 29, 2013 of the 13th National Assembly on promoting the implementation of policies and laws on health insurance, towards universal health insurance in the province.

According to the assessment of the Hai Duong Department of Health, although many positive results have been achieved; health insurance examination and treatment facilities in the province have been invested in medical equipment and trained human resources, but some places have not yet met the needs of patients. There are health insurance examination and treatment facilities that have not paid due attention to the economic issues of health insurance examination and treatment.

Director of Hai Duong Department of Health Tran Quang Canh said that bidding and purchasing of medicine and medical supplies after the Covid-19 pandemic encountered many difficulties, supply was interrupted while some decrees and guiding circulars were slow to be issued at times.

At the meeting, the leaders of Hai Duong Social Insurance said that the shortage of medicine and medical supplies still occurs and is forecasted to continue until the end of the year. This affects the quality of medical examination and treatment under health insurance for people and has not created motivation to encourage and retain people to participate in health insurance.

Hai Duong Department of Health proposed to establish a Bidding Center for purchasing drugs, chemicals, consumables, and medical equipment at the national or provincial level. According to practical needs, medical facilities will plan and register to purchase for use. This is to create conditions for medical facilities to focus on performing their main professional tasks, which are medical examination and treatment. Thereby, the procurement of medical supplies and equipment is carried out promptly, in accordance with regulations, and the quality of medical examination and treatment for people is improved.

The Department of Health of Hai Duong province also requested the Ministry of Health to remove difficulties in paying for medical services related to donated medical equipment whose ownership has not been established from 2020 to March 4, 2023, with a total amount in Hai Duong of more than 15.7 billion VND.

This is the final supervision in the supervision period of the National Assembly Delegation of Hai Duong province on this content. Previously, the delegation directly supervised at the People's Committees of Tu Ky and Ninh Giang districts and the Social Insurance of Hai Duong province.

It is expected that the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance will be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly.