VietNamNet Bridge – From September, hospitals in many provinces and cities will apply new fees, which were approved by local People’s Councils in August.

Director Nguyen Huy Thang of the Iron and Steel Hospital of Thai Nguyen Province told VietNamNet that the new hospital fees were approved by the provincial People’s Council in August and the new fees began take effect on September 1.

Thang said the hospital fees at his hospital rose from 60-65 percent on average, but the increase would not remarkably help improve the hospital’s financial situation because the rise is low.

In Lao Cai, all provincial-level hospitals have also applied new fees, which rise by 87.2 percent on average.

Some provinces in the Mekong Delta like Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, An Giang and Dong Thap have also increased hospital fees from September. Dong Thap has the highest increase of 93 percent.

According to the Vietnam Social Insurance Agency, the approved new hospital fees of many provinces reduced remarkably compared to the initial proposals after this agency made comments on the proposals.

For example, Lao Cai initially suggested increasing its hospital fees by 95 percent compared to the frame set by the Ministry of Health and Finance but the province finally fixed at 87.2 percent.

From mid-September, 15 central hospitals will also apply new fees, which were approved by the Ministry of Health.

Six central hospitals have already raised fees from August 1, including Bach Mai, K, Vietnam-Germany, Hospital for Lung Diseases, Vietnam-Sweden Uong Bi and Hematology and Blood  Transfusion Hospitals.

N. Anh