( illustrative photo)

A doctor shortage is a common problem at many hospitals on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City. Recently Thu Duc hospital has contracted to send senior doctors and heads of wards to train doctors at Cu Chi hospital. After constructing a dormitory and offering other incentives for doctors, Cu Chi hospital now has 30 doctors.

Can Gio hospital has 18 doctors who are unable to handle the 350 to 400 patients on hand every day. It has invited doctors to come from central hospitals as a temporary solution. Can Gio district has organized a human resources program from 2018 to 2020 which includes a monthly allowance policy, a training fund, and housing for doctors.  

Đoàn Thị Ngọc Cẩm, Vice Chairwoman of Can Gio district’s People’s Committee, says: “Doctors will be paid 5 times the basic salary. Other jobs will receive 3 times the base. This incentive is designed to attract doctors to Can Gio hospital.”  

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Health Department Associate Professor Doctor Tăng Chí Thượng said senior doctors at central hospitals will engage in training and technology transfer activities for doctors at local hospitals. The Health Department has replicated its red-alert procedure to support local hospitals. “In emergency cases where we can’t transport the patient from a remote hospital to a central hospital, we activate the red-alert procedure. Other hospitals then will send doctors to help.”

After November 1, 2017, public hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City will be allowed to recruit doctors and medical workers who don’t have permanent residency in the city. It’s one way for public hospitals to solve their personnel shortage.