HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City has begun allocating funds to 24health stations for upgrading their infrastructure, as part of efforts tostrengthen primary health care in the model of family medicine.
The health station in Ward 13 became the first to join the programme.
According to Vice Director of the municipal Department of Health Tang ChiThuong, besides receiving more than 1.7 billion VND (73,000 USD) from thecity’s budget to upgrade its facilities, the station has got modern equipmentlike a basic biochemical testing system, ultrasound machines, and essential stockof medicines for initial medical checkups in line with the Ministry of Health(MoH)’s standards.
Two doctors from the Binh Thanh district hospital were sent to the Ward 13health station to provide examinations to local residents. Meanwhile, 30doctors with considerable expertise in gastrointestinal tract, endocrine,respiratory, cardiovascular, geriatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, andpediatrics at district- and city-level hospitals will provide the station withconsultation and examination support via online medical diagnosis software.
Particularly, medical checkup fees will be covered by health insurance and medicalrecords of patients kept in an electronic database at the station. “Thesepositive changes will contribute to enhancing trust among local residents andimproving images of the grassroots-level healthcare system”, Thuong said.
Earlier, within the project approved by the Prime Minister to developgrassroots-level medical stations, the MoH selected 26 health stations in eightcities and provinces to implement its pilot programme, aiming to improveprimary health care in line with the principles of family medicine. Thestations will work to improve public health, manage personal health records oflocal residents, cure non-communicable diseases, and ensure effectivevaccination campaign, among others.-VNA