Health centre of Pù Nhi Commune, home to Mông and Thái ethnic minority  people, over the past few years, has lacked medical workers and facilities. VNA/VNS Photo

THANH HÓA - Health centres in the border district of Mường Lát, the northern province of Thanh Hoá, have faced both doctor and equipment shortages for many years.

Some centres have deteriorated in addition, while having only four doctors working at eight stations has affected the efficiency of examination and treatment for local people.

“Currently, the most difficult problem for the health sector is that the commune-level medical stations haven’t got ultrasound machines and biochemical testing for urine and blood,” said Hà Văn Ca, Secretary of the district Party’s Committee.

Infrastructure and housing for medical workers have also deteriorated.

The Health centre of Pù Nhi Commune, home to Mông and Thái ethnic minority people, has lacked medical workers and facilities over the past few years.

Triệu Văn Ú, head of the centre, said with four medical workers, the centre faced dangerous situations when it had serious cases who urged to be moved to Mường Lát District’s General Hospital because it lacked supporting equipment.  

The centre’s facilities were degraded, lights were broken, house walls were cracked, and the railing was rusted. Worse, the area behind the centre was at risk of landslide.

“There is a great need for medical examination and treatment from local residents, however, four health workers isn't enough,” he said.

“We have asked the district People's Committee for more funding to improve the infrastructure and human resources.”

The health centre of Trung Lý Commune, home to more than 6,400 ethnic minority inhabitants, also lacks medical workers while their houses are mostly temporarily built on the mountainside’s subsidence area.

“On stormy days, they have to move to another place for safety,” said  Đinh Thanh Hải, head of the centre.

He hoped that the provincial budget would pay for facilities and medical workers to meet the demand for examination and treatment.

Thanh Hóa Provincial People's Committee had issued Decision 4360 /QD on the assignment of additional medical staff for commune-level centres, and the provincial health sector iwas mobilising human resources for remote areas, Hà Văn Ca said. VNS