The health sector in HCM City improved the quality of care offered by medical staff and healthcare services over the last five years. — VNS Photo Thu Hằng

HCM CITY — HCM City has reached its goal to have 20 doctors per 10,000 people after implementation of a five-year programme on improving the quality of health care services for local residents.

The city’s Department of Health on Monday released the results of the programme during the 2016-20 period.

Nguyễn Tấn Bỉnh, director of the department, said the city had 16 doctors and 33 nurses per 10,000 people in 2016. By the end of May, that figure had increased to 35 nurses per 10,000 people, and two doctors and two midwives or assistant doctors in obstetrics and pediatrics at all health stations.

All medical workers in the city have received training, updated their medical knowledge and professional skills, and improved their attitudes towards patients.

In the 2016-19 period, the number of health workers obtaining postgraduate qualifications increased to 6,835 from 6,385.

The number of doctors obtaining postgraduate qualifications increased to 7,164 people. Of the number, there were 304 doctors with PhD degrees, accounting for 4.25 per cent.

Most trained medical staff have met requirements for medical treatments, which has improved the quality of healthcare services and reduced overcrowding in hospitals.  

“Many district-level hospitals have attracted more patients for health examinations and treatment,” Bỉnh said.

The training has created opportunities and favorable conditions for medical staff to acquire new knowledge and apply advanced medical techniques.

“Numerous modern technologies have been successfully transferred and applied effectively at health facilities in the city and southern region,” Bỉnh said.

Among them are stem cells for treatment of hematologic diseases at the Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital, and continuous dialysis technique for hand-foot-and-mouth disease patients at HCM City Paediatrics Hospital 1.

In addition, techniques in cardiac catheterization, organ transplantation, in-vitro fertilization, laparoscopic surgery, open heart surgery, Phaco technique for cataract surgery, and cochlear implant surgery have been successfully applied.

The department's goals for the next five-year period aim to have 21 doctors and 40 nurses per 10,000 people.

By 2026, 100 per cent of medical workers will be provided training and will update their medical knowledge and professional skills, and will have an improved attitude towards patients. — VNS