VietNamNet Bridge – The use of substandard medical equipment is widespread at clinics and hospitals nationwide, with over one-fourth of those inspected infringing regulations, inspectors said in a report.

People register for health check-ups at a clinic in HCMC. Inspectors from the Ministry of Science and Technology said 25.8% out of the 1,493 hospitals and healthcare facilities inspected are using substandard medical equipment and devices

Inspectors from the Ministry of Science and Technology said that 385 hospitals and healthcare facilities out of the 1,493 inspected, or 25.8%, are using substandard medical equipment and devices.

As many as 3,597 pieces of equipment out of 13,437 inspected are found to not meet the prescribed standards, but such clinics are still using the equipment in diagnosing and treating patients. Even worse, nearly half of those facilities violate radioactive regulations.

According to the inspectors, healthcare facilities in provinces such as Gia Lai, Phu Yen and Thanh Hoa completely ignored tests of medical equipment.

Specifically, the validity verifications of 327 out of 331 blood pressure gauges, electrocardiogram and encephalogram machines in those provinces are found to have expired, or an incredibly high rate of nearly 100%. Over one-third of sphygmomanometers, or 17 of 49 units, fail to deliver exact test results with a rate of error exceeding the permissible level.

In Ba Ria-Vung Tau, the inspection team detected problems in 852 thermometers, 98 manometers of oxygen tanks and about 40 electrocardiogram machines.

Meanwhile, the inspection in Gia Lai Province has uncovered 345 sphygmomanometers, 43 electrocardiogram machines, two thermometers, three encephalogram machines and 314 manometers were not qualified enough.

Inspection results indicated that medical facilities have been irresponsible in ensuring the right functions of diagnosis equipment.

Tran Minh Dung, chief inspector of the science ministry, said the initial quality of medical equipment in many localities has not been inspected. He considered it is hard to manage the quality of medical equipment because some are not in the list of products monitored by the Health Ministry.

In the inspection, 702 healthcare facilities violating regulations on measurement and radiation safety had to pay total fines of over VND1.44 billion. About 93% of measurement violation cases related to verification. Other common infringements included individual radiation dose, practitioner’s permit, machine inspection and safety assessment.

Some local governments have imposed severe punishments on violating medical facilities. For example, the HCMC government has fined 22 facilities a total of VND146.5 million, Kon Tum Province fined 11 facilities VND126 million and Quang Nam Province slapped VND85 million fines on 16 healthcare facilities.

The inspection agency also imposed some additional penalties such as suspending the use of radioactive sources and radiation equipment, or revoking licenses.

SGT/VNN