The Viet A case, in which a company exploited the high demand for Covid-19 test kits by violating bidding regulations and inflating test kit prices has caused such a serious impact that it is being compared with a “bomb” that has shaken the entire healthcare system.

Nguyen Lan Hieu, director of the Hanoi Medical University Hospital, National Assembly Deputy from Binh Dinh, noted at the ongoing National Assembly’s session on June 1 that Covid-19 has been controlled. He said Vietnamese should not ‘sit and wait’ for pandemic developments but need to react flexibly. It is now the time to return to normal and strive for two goals.

First, the economy reopening and recovery in the post-pandemic period. Second, avoiding overloading of the healthcare system. Hospitals need to be capable of treating both normal diseases and Covid-19.

The healthcare sector has suffered the most and has had the heaviest impact from Covid-19. Achievements and successes have been recognized by the society, while penalties have been imposed on violations.

“How will we recover and develop the healthcare sector, a pillar in ensuring social welfare, after the strong storm? The sector must not become paralyzed just because of some wrongdoings,” Hieu said, adding that problems, including the low income of medical workers and the procurement of medical drugs and equipment, have become even worse.

It’s not easy to find answers to the questions because the problems have existed for many years and are becoming more complicated.

“The bidding for procurement of medical equipment and drugs is the biggest concern of the most hospitals, both public and private ones,” Hieu said.

One of the biggest difficulties, according to Hieu, is the lack of a high-quality labor force because of low wages and the lack of equipment to use new techniques.

Hieu proposed that the National Assembly give detailed comments and complete the compilation of the revised law on medical examination and treatment this session before ratification in the next session.

As a doctor, Hieu hopes that the National Assembly and high-ranking officials can understand the difficulties that the healthcare sector is facing.

“Stability and a clear development orientation are the things medical workers need the most. The pandemic proved the great ability of overcoming difficulties of the healthcare sector,” Hieu said. “I feel proud to see the president of a medical school of the US showing his admiration for Vietnam’s anti-pandemic model.”

He said that the healthcare sector has made a great contribution in the fight against the pandemic, but they are anxious in the post-pandemic period as so many events have occurred.

The officials who committed violations have had to pay a heavy price for their behavior. Meanwhile, those who have just taken office are confused as they don’t know what to do, as they fear that they may break the laws if the legal framework is still not perfect.

Trinh Xuan An, a National Assembly Deputy from Dong Nai, asked to continue the anti-pandemic program in the new normal, saying that Vietnam should not be complacent about achievements. It is necessary to to develop the healthcare system, especially healthcare centers at the grassroots level and public hospitals.

An stressed that there should be policies to allow hospitals and medical centers to take the initiative and feel confident in purchasing drugs and medical equipment. It is necessary to stop the fear of inspection and examination as hospitals and healthcare centers dare not buy anything, and to stop the attitude of finding problems everywhere in all procurement projects.

Trinh Xuan An, another National Assembly Deputy, said that though the healthcare sector has been shaken by the Viet A “bomb”, fighting the pandemic, curing people and taking care of people’s health are still the top priorities.

To Van Tam, a National Assembly Deputy from Kon Tum, affirmed that the country is now in a new normal, and that the vaccine strategy is an important factor that has helped the fight against the pandemic.

There are two most important points of the strategy – vaccine diplomacy and domestic vaccine research and development.

The great efforts made by high-ranking officials in implementing vaccine diplomacy has brought success. 

When the pandemic broke out, Vietnam decided that it needed to research and develop vaccines to ensure the supply of vaccines for the fight against the pandemic. The research began in May 2020 and it was expected that Vietnam would have a vaccine for use in Q3 2021. However, there is still no Vietnamese vaccine.

Thu Hang - Huong Quynh