On December 30, the Ministry of Health announced the top 10 notable events in healthcare for the year 2005. These milestones represent significant advancements in the sector, providing numerous benefits to patients.
1. Health Insurance Covers 100% of High-Tech Medical Services
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High-tech procedures such as organ transplants will be covered by health insurance. |
A significant turning point in healthcare last year was the increased attention to patient rights. On November 16, 2005, the Ministry of Health issued Decision No. 36/2005/QĐ-BYT, which established a list of high-cost medical techniques eligible for health insurance coverage. Among the 177 high-tech procedures with substantial costs, many services previously not covered for patients with health insurance cards, such as interventional techniques and imaging diagnostics; oil-chemical embolization for primary liver cancer treatment; surgeries using Gamma knives; and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with radioactive isotopes were included.
Notably, organ transplant procedures such as liver transplants, kidney transplants, and corneal transplants will also be covered by health insurance. Patients with health insurance cards utilizing high-cost medical services will have 100% of the costs covered for services costing less than 7 million VND.
This decision was made shortly after the Politburo issued Resolution 46/NQ-TW on protecting, caring for, and improving the health of the people in the new context (February 23, 2005). The Prime Minister also issued Decision 243/QĐ-TTg on the action program to implement Resolution 46/NQ-TW (October 5, 2005).
2. Increase in Allowances for Healthcare Workers
For the first time, civil servants and healthcare workers directly serving in medical facilities received a professional allowance ranging from 15% to 50% (Decision No. 276/QĐ-TTg dated November 1, 2005) regarding the professional allowances for the healthcare sector.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs developed a circular on this matter. Healthcare professionals will also receive career incentives similar to teachers, with both teachers and healthcare staff directly serving patients receiving an additional 20% of their salary.
Additionally, in specialized fields that are hazardous or infectious (such as psychiatry, tuberculosis, leprosy, HIV/AIDS treatment, and healthcare facilities in remote areas), healthcare professionals will receive specific occupational allowances.
3. Increased Life Expectancy for Citizens in the Next 5 Years
Enhancing the health of the population has always been a key priority in healthcare. All health indicators and quality of life for citizens met and exceeded the targets set for the 2001-2005 period as per Decision 35/QĐ-TTg by the Prime Minister on the Strategy for the Protection and Care of People’s Health for the period 2001-2010.
Among the achievements are the Millennium Development Goals, such as the average life expectancy reaching 71.3 years (with a target of 71 years by 2010); and the mortality rates for children under 1 year and under 5 years being 21 ‰ and 32 ‰ (with targets of 30 ‰ and 37 ‰, respectively).
4. Control of H5N1 Avian Influenza
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In 2005, severe cases of H5N1 significantly declined. |
Although the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak occurred, the decisive direction from the Government and the Ministry of Health ensured that no major outbreaks occurred among humans, thereby contributing to social security.
Compared to 2004, the number of infections and deaths from H5N1 influenza decreased. Since the beginning of the year, there have been 66 reported cases in 25 provinces/cities, with 22 deaths. Since the first reported case of H5N1 in Vietnam (December 26, 2003), there have been 93 cases reported in 32 provinces/cities, with 42 deaths. Notably, this winter, the country recorded only 2 cases of H5N1, one of which resulted in death.
5. Organ Transplantation in Vietnam “Improving”
Following the success of the first liver transplant in Vietnam in early 2004, in 2005, two successful liver transplant cases were performed at the Central Pediatric Hospital and Children’s Hospital No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, including a liver transplant performed on a very young patient (2 years old).
The success of organ transplantation also includes successful kidney transplants conducted over the past decade, with many kidney transplants successfully performed at hospitals nationwide in 2005.
Moreover, advanced techniques such as successful Gamma knife surgery at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and 2,000 babies born through in vitro fertilization were also noteworthy achievements.
6. Stabilization of Medicine Prices
The National Assembly approved the Pharmacy Law on June 14, 2005; the Ministry of Health has been actively directing measures to stabilize medicine prices, ensuring patient rights.
Compared to 2004, the pharmaceutical market has shown clear stabilization this year. For several consecutive months, reports from the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Business indicated that medicine prices did not fluctuate significantly. The year 2005 was assessed as a time when the supply of essential medicines was sufficient, meeting treatment needs at stable prices without sudden fluctuations like other commodities.
7. 50th Anniversary of the Vietnamese Healthcare Sector
In addition to many major celebrations in 2005, the healthcare sector also celebrated its 50th anniversary. The traditional celebration and return to roots coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of Vietnamese Physicians and the 30th Anniversary of National Reunification (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2005) were successfully organized.
The healthcare sector successfully held a nationwide emulation conference on July 15, 2005, contributing to promoting the emulation movement in the upcoming years.
8. Establishment of Satellite Hospitals
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Complex techniques such as organ transplants have been implemented by the healthcare sector. |
To alleviate the burden on higher-level hospitals, a satellite hospital model was implemented for the first time. This includes a surgical trauma emergency satellite system at Viet Duc Hospital, which involves 6 provincial hospitals within a 100 km radius of Hanoi.
9. Following the Example of Doctor Dang Thuy Tram
Never before have diary pages caused such a “frenzy” as those of martyr and doctor Dang Thuy Tram and Nguyen Van Thac. The head of the Đức Phổ clinic in Quang Nam during the resistance against American imperialism, Dang Thuy Tram’s diary was launched by the Central Ideology – Culture Committee as a campaign to promote learning and emulation throughout the healthcare sector, as well as among youth and students nationwide.
Immediately after the publication of the diaries as a book, a movement to emulate the lives of the two martyrs began.
10. Establishment of the Vietnam Institute of Traditional Medicine
On May 19, the Vietnam Institute of Traditional Medicine, a higher education institution specializing in traditional medicine, was officially launched.
Established from the Tuệ Tĩnh Traditional Medicine School, the Vietnam Institute of Traditional Medicine is the first university focused on traditional medicine among the approximately 10 universities currently under the healthcare sector in Vietnam.
