Hospitals plan to establish new infection control system by 2015

HA NOI (VNS)— The Ministry of Health will implement a new system to control infections in all central and provincial hospitals nation-wide by 2015, said Vice Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen.

Xuyen outlined the Ministry's National Action Plan on Infection Control and Prevention at a conference in the capital yesterday. She said that the goal is to improve treatment and safety for patients, health staff and the community.

She stated that there will be improvement in Viet Nam's ability to prevent known infectious diseases and to recognise and control rare, highly dangerous and newly emerging threats. This will be achieved through a strengthened, adaptable and multi-disciplinary health system.

"In the past Viet Nam has faced many challenges in hospital infection control and prevention due to a shortage of human resources.Control measures should be applied regularly and seriously in hospitals," she said.

A survey undertaken in 19 central hospitals in 2005 showed that there was an infection rate of about 5.8 per cent. Hospital infections were most common clinic pneumonia and infections resulting from burns.

Babatunde Olowokure, a WHO expert in emerging diseases surveillance, said that Viet Nam faces the threat of emerging diseases such as the infectious H1N1 pandemic virus and the drug-resistant pathogen.

According to Olowokure, the ministry's plan should focus on building infectious disease surveillance and epidemiology investigation, and creating a network and co-ordination mechanism.

A survey conducted in 522 hospitals nation-wide by the ministry in August showed that infection control systems have been established in 59.4 per cent of hospitals while up to 81.4 per cent have set up infection control councils. — VNS