Healthcare, digital transformation attract attention in question-and-answer session

Under the flexible direction of the session chairman, 6 delegates questioned the department directors about many hot issues that voters in the province are interested in.

Medical industry lacks supplies

Comrade Tran Quang Canh, Director of the Department of Health, was the first director to answer questions. This was also the first time this director answered questions at a meeting of the Provincial People's Council.

Delegate Nguyen Thi Huyen, Deputy Head of the Culture - Social Committee of the Provincial People's Council, asked about the current status of medical equipment of public medical facilities, which only meets about 40% of the maximum quantity according to the norm, some invested equipment has not been used, has not been used effectively, and requested the Director of the Department of Health to state the reasons and solutions. Director of the Department of Health Tran Quang Canh explained that there were 3 reasons. The medical facilities proposed the need for a list of medical equipment without comprehensively assessing the need for use, the ability to operate, and the effectiveness after being put into use. The staff and consultants of the Department of Health have not coordinated well with the beneficiaries to assess the need for use, the ability to operate, and the effectiveness after investment, and lacked surveys and consultation with experts in investing in equipment to ensure that it is suitable for the actual situation of use at medical facilities. Many types of testing machines with proprietary chemicals are not available in the domestic market, there are no alternative chemicals and the price is often very high. Therefore, units have difficulty finding sources of supply. The head of the Department of Health said that in the coming time, unused equipment will be transferred to units in need, and units will be directed to mobilize investment resources.

Thinking that the answer of the Director of the Department of Health was rambling, comrade Nguyen Khac Toan asked the head of the Department of Health to "concisely summarize" in the following answers.

Delegate Nguyen Thi Huong, Principal of Hai Duong Central College of Pharmacy, questioned: “Currently, there is a situation where people who receive medical examination and treatment under health insurance are prescribed medicine by doctors but some medicines have to be purchased outside because the hospital does not have them. Sometimes, in some places, medical examination and treatment facilities lack chemicals to perform some paraclinical tests… I would like to request the Director of the Department of Health to inform us of the current situation and solutions for bidding on medicines and medical supplies at public facilities.”

This is also the content that delegate Le Tuyet Minh (Hai Duong General Hospital) reflected when speaking at the discussion hall earlier.

Director of the Department of Health Tran Quang Canh analyzed the cause of this problem in depth. "2023 is the first year that units organize their own bidding for drugs, chemicals, and medical supplies, especially bidding online, so there is still confusion and fear, leading to a shortage of drugs, chemicals, and medical supplies for patients. Up to now, the bidding packages for drugs, chemicals, and basic medical supplies have been completed," comrade Tran Quang Canh replied and gave solutions for the bidding of the health sector in the future.

Solution to "retain" doctors

One of the issues that the Provincial People's Council delegates questioned the Director of the Department of Health at the parliament was the increasing number of qualified doctors transferring from public health facilities to private health facilities.

Responding to this content, Director of the Department of Health Tran Quang Canh said that the province currently has 1,415 public health doctors. In 2023, 20 doctors will transfer from public health to private health.

Affirming that most doctors do not quit their jobs, comrade Tran Quang Canh said that there is a shift of highly qualified doctors from the public to the private sector for many reasons. Regarding solutions, the department will advise the Provincial People's Committee to adjust support for doctors, focusing on high-quality human resources, specialties that are difficult to recruit, and prone to occupational risks; support funding for annual training of medical staff. Strengthen equipment, improve management capacity, leadership team, especially leaders.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Nguyen Khac Toan affirmed that the Department of Health had correctly identified the reason why doctors moved from public hospitals to private hospitals, but if they remained in the province, they would still be serving the people. The fact that doctors moved out of the province is a concern in the coming time and the Department of Health needs to find a solution.

Overcoming the situation of civil servants performing administrative procedures online on behalf of people

Answering the question "How has the province implemented digital transformation services in the past, focusing on which sectors and fields? What is the initial effectiveness of digital services for people and businesses?" by delegate Nguyen Thi Huyen, Director of the Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Cao Thang said that in the past, all levels, sectors, organizations and businesses have focused on promoting and raising awareness for and among people about digital skills. Thereby, gradually forming a digital culture, digital citizens and digital society. Focus on developing postal and telecommunications infrastructure, shifting to ICT infrastructure, enhancing shared applications...

Also related to digital transformation, delegate Nguyen Hong Sang raised the issue of people's proactive access to and use of digital transformation services in some localities, especially at the commune level, which is still limited due to the ability to access information technology, and requested the Director of the Department of Information and Communications to propose solutions.

Comrade Nguyen Cao Thang said that in recent times, civil servants at the grassroots level have often had to do the work for people when participating in online administrative procedures. To solve this problem, the industry has proposed solutions in providing and using digital transformation services in a synchronous, comprehensive manner, creating convenience for people.

At the question and answer session, comrade Hoang Van Thuc, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, answered the content related to voters' opinions and through the discussion of delegates in the hall about re-issuing land use right certificates for households donating land for public works...