Ca Mau: Dozens of doctors at public hospitals resign
More doctors leaving public hospitals to go private

Nguyen Van Dung, director of Ca Mau Province’s Department of Health, explains why dozens of doctors at public hospitals in recent years have resigned. — Photo baogiaothong.vn

Nguyen Van Dung, director of the department, made the statement in reply to queries on the increasing number of doctors quitting jobs at public hospitals for private medical establishments in recent years.

Dung said the trend was on the rise but noted that it was also occurring nationwide.

Between 2015 and 2018, about 140 doctors stopped working at public hospitals in the province to move to private clinics and hospitals.

In 2018 alone, up to 31 doctors gave up their jobs. Dung said the main reason was low pay.

In public hospitals, a contracted doctor receives a monthly payment of VND3 million (US$129), while private facilities offer VND10-20 million ($430-861).

Dung said the department has asked the provincial authority to improve doctors' salaries and give financial autonomy to public hospitals.

Ca Mau General Hospital and Ca Mau Maternity Hospital will implement financial autonomy by the end of the year. The remaining hospitals in the province will apply the scheme in 2020, he said.

VNS