Simpler procedures needed to attract investment in healthcare sector: experts
Simpler procedures needed to attract investment in healthcare sector: experts
Although recent years have seen a wave of investments in the local healthcare sector, investment procedures in the sector are often overlapping and complicated. Therefore, the country should pay more attention to simplifying these procedures, said experts at a seminar held in HCMC on March 29.
At the seminar, entitled, “What does the Vietnamese healthcare sector need to attract investment?” jointly held by the Saigon Times Group, the HCMC Medical Association, the HCMC Private Medical Practice Association and DG Medical, a provider of health solutions, Dr Dilshaad Ali, a professional consultant for DG Medical, said many foreign enterprises are keen to invest in Vietnam’s healthcare sector, but they expect the country to simplify procedures.
If Vietnam can do this, its healthcare market will become more attractive to investors, Ali added.
He noted that Vietnam’s economy is making significant moves forward and local workers’ incomes have surged, while spending increases for healthcare services, opening up multiple opportunities for investors.
Doctor Pham Xuan Dung, director of HCMC Oncology Hospital, cited a report last year by the Ministry of Health as saying that the country has attracted 800 healthcare sectors, with total registered capital of VND3 trillion. Yet, this investment remains modest, while the number of new patients increases by 10% per year.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment has complained about overlapping procedures for investors in the healthcare sector.
Dr Tang Chi Thuong, deputy director of the HCMC Healthcare Department, said the country has encouraged investors to carry out healthcare projects under the public-private partnership format. However, procedures for the model should be relaxed to optimize the capital and efficiency of projects, while ensuring the quality of medical check-ups and treatment.
He also stressed the importance of connectivity among public and private medical centers, to ease the pressure on large hospitals and promote investment in private hospitals.
At another discussion during the seminar, attendees agreed that patients should be entitled to health insurance policies, even when they undergo medical checkups and treatment at doctors’ medical offices.
Le Thanh Hai, chairman of the HCMC Private Medical Practice Association, said doctors’ medical practices have yet to sign contracts with health insurance agencies.
At present, more than 87% of the population is medically insured and the rate is expected to rise to 90% by 2020, said Luu Thi Thanh Huyen, deputy director of the HCMC Social Security, adding that private hospitals have signed health insurance contracts with the agency, so doctors’ medical practices should also become involved in these programs.
However, it is necessary to ensure the quality of these practices, and medical service prices should be reported to health insurance agencies, Huyen noted.
Dr Tang Nam Anh from the Traumatology and Orthopaedics Department of Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital also proposed payments for insured patients undergoing medical examinations and treatment at doctors’ practices.
