Domestic doctors’ professional skills have been progressing in recent years, however infrastructure inefficiency and a lack of accurate information about . . .
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Paediatric Hospital No 2’s Coronary Department has been equipped with the latest technology. The new department has helped to relieve overcrowding at other hospitals. |
Patients run a risk going abroad because, after surgery without the proper follow up treatment, patients can easily suffer from side-effects like bleeding, pain, and congestion. V.T. Hoa suffered from painful side effects after having a procedure done abroad and finally had to check into Bach Mai for treatment.
Nguyen Thu Thuy decided to go abroad to give birth where she had to undergo caesarean section. Her total fees were VND1.3 billion (US$68,421). After returning to Viet Nam, to undergo due to an error made by a foreign doctor Thuy had to undergo another surgery, which could cost her an additional VND460 million ($24,210). Thuy then decided to seek treatment at Viet-Duc hospital
“I regret going abroad to give birth. If I would have gone to a hospital here it would have been cheaper for me, and I would have not suffered as much,” said Thuy.
However, the fact remains that most patients that go abroad for medical treatment are satisfied with the service quality.
Nguyen Van Sang from HCM City took his son to a Singaporean hospital to treat his broken legs. After three days, his son began to show signs of recovery.
“Doctors there are very professional and friendly. It is true that you get what you pay for,” said Sang.
Another patient, Ngan Quyen also prefers foreign doctors.
“I am suffering from stage four cancer and I went to Singapore for treatment. Now I feel good. I think Singaporean doctors are better,”
Most patients also prefer to go abroad to receive organ transplant operations. At the moment, there are 11 standardised organ transplant centres nationwide, however, patients still prefer going abroad.
“Vietnamese doctors can do organ transplant operations well here, however there are a lack of organs,” said Do Tat Cuong, Vice Director of Hospital 103.
Domestic doctor skills have been improving recently. In certain fields, like cardiac medicine, foreign doctors even come to Viet Nam for instructional courses and seminars, according to Tuan.
“At the moment, we have up to date methods and medicine for cancer treatment. Therefore, patients with cancer should believe in their doctor’s ability here, rather than going abroad for service,” said Pham Van Thai, a doctor from Bach Mai Hospital.
Despite the improvement of professional skills to meet regional standards, most hospitals’ facilities are still lacking.
“Patients, especially those who suffer from painful diseases, prefer to be treated with gentle and considerate care from doctors, however sometimes they are not given such treatment,” said Tuan
Do Doan Loi, Vice Director of Bach Mai Hospital, said that the hospital offered high quality service, but it did not have enough facilities to support all of their patients. By March 11, the number of patients checked in at the hospital was 2,760, meanwhile there are only 1,800 available beds. Bach Mai hospital is planning to build a new 21-storey international healthcare centre. The centre will be equipped with modern machines to meet patients’ needs so that they won’t have to go abroad for proper treatment.
“There has been remarkable improvement achieved in the domestic healthcare sector, however patients don’t get accurate information so they do not know where to go for treatment,” said Nguyen Khanh Trach, Chairman of Viet Nam Internal Medicine Association.
It was necessary to have skilled marketing teams that would be able to properly reach potential patients, added Trach.
According to statistics released by the Ministry of Health, about 300,000 people go abroad for health care a year.
VietNamNet/Viet Nam News
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