VietNamNet Bridge – The cost of services at many hospitals in HCM City have increased despite attempts by local authorities to prevent a hike.

The Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper reported that the cost of normal X-rays or CT (computerised tomography) scans had increased by VND100,000 (US$0.5) each visit.

Cost increases have occurred in most services, including health check-ups, delivery of babies, and kidney-related services.

Meanwhile, State-run hospitals have not increased the cost of service but are planning to do so because of the higher costs for equipment, water supply and power.

Le Hoang Minh, director of the Tumor Hospital, said the hospital had kept costs stable from 2008. The costs at 115 People Hospital have also remained the same since 2007.

Hospitals can set their own increases without approval from local authorities, but they have to follow the margins set in a decree about health care costs, according to Dinh Thi Lieu, head of the city Department of Health's finance division.

In case there is need for a price rise, the hospitals will set up a committee to prepare for final approval by the hospital director.

Le Minh Hai, head of the department's healthcare service management division, said private hospitals and clinics operated under enterprise laws; thus, prices were not supervised by the department.

Hospitals and clinics only had the responsibility to report information to the city department, Hai said.

Experts said local healthcare authorities should have tighter supervision to control the price of services at hospitals and clinics.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News