A medical staff takes care of a patient in Bình Dân Hospital.Photo sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY — The health sector, particularly public hospitals, is currently facing a severe shortage in human resources, especially nurses.

According to Director of the HCM City Department of Health Tăng Chí Thượng, leaders of the Department of Health receive resignation letters from medical workers in public hospitals every day.

The most pressing issue facing the health sector is the lack of nursing personnel, who often cite low pay and overwork as reasons for quitting.

In 2021 and in the first six months of 2022, more than 2,000 medical workers, mainly doctors and nurses, quitted.

Although the total number of staff members on duty is not much lower compared to 2021, this has caused difficulties for public health facilities because most of the people who quit their jobs were experienced workers.

Since new staff members need time to develop their skills, hospitals are facing a challenging issue.

The perfect ratio is three nurses to one doctor, but currently there are 1.5/two nurses to one doctor.

The reduction in nursing rates would lead to a decrease in the quality of patient care, Thượng said.

On the afternoon of August 24, the supervisory delegation of the National Assembly's Social Committee had a meeting with HCM City Department of Health and discussed legal policies on social insurance in the period of 2016-2021, legal policies on health insurance in the period of 2019-2021 and the implementation of urgent socio-medical measures in the prevention of the COVID-19 epidemic, following the National Assembly’s Resolution 30.

Multiple difficulties related to payment and procurement of medical supplies and drugs on the list of health insurance premiums were raised by medical facilities. — VNS