The days of long queues for examinations at Bach Mai Hospital are over.

Meanwhile, Ms. Pham Le Thu (from Hai Duong ) suffers from persistent pain and poor bone and joint health. She has been examined and treated at lower-level hospitals for many years, but still wishes to go to a higher-level hospital for peace of mind. However, fearing the long waits and queues, she hasn't been able to arrange it yet.

"Yesterday, I read in the newspaper that Bach Mai Hospital has late-night consultations, so I registered online. This afternoon, I took half a day off work and left Hai Duong at 3:30 PM for the examination. Having a medical check-up and treatment at this time is very convenient for administrative staff like me," Ms. Thu shared.

According to observations, the scene of patients crowding and queuing for examinations during office hours is no longer as common as it used to be.

Reducing the burden on hospitals

From August 1st, Bach Mai Hospital began offering after-hours medical examinations, therefore, the number of people coming for examinations is not excessively large. The examination rooms and sample collection areas are located in the same building, making it more convenient for people.

Currently, the hospital receives 6,000 to 8,000 outpatients and approximately 4,000 inpatients daily. Of these, only about 20% are from Hanoi, while the remaining 80% come from other provinces and cities across the country.

"With a large number of patients, especially between 6 and 9 a.m., long queues and traffic jams from the street to the hospital are a frequent occurrence. By extending the consultation hours, people can easily arrange their schedules to come to the hospital, avoiding long queues and waiting times," said Associate Professor Dr. Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital.

Associate Professor, Doctor Vu Van Giap, Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital, said that this is considered a temporary solution to reduce the hospital's burden in the short term. In the long term, the hospital will implement the Central Committee's Resolution 20 on the development of grassroots healthcare .

Accordingly, the hospital will continue to implement professional training and provide guidance to lower-level facilities in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Health. The goal is that in the future, people will be able to receive treatment for common illnesses right at the facility, without having to go to central-level hospitals.

Increase income for doctors and medical staff.

According to Dr. Giap, during after-hours consultations, the hospital provides a full range of clinics and specialties, just like during regular working hours, including: Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Musculoskeletal, Neurology, Respiratory, Nephrology and Urology, Cardiology, Infectious Diseases, Hematology, Intensive Care, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Otolaryngology, Dentistry, Ophthalmology, etc.

Bach Mai Hospital will implement after-hours medical examinations starting August 1st, both to reduce workload and increase income for medical staff.

Implementing after-hours medical examination and treatment services not only helps reduce the burden on healthcare workers and meet patient needs, but also addresses the legitimate issue of increasing income for medical staff.

"There was a period after the Covid-19 pandemic when the unit faced difficulties, and many staff members had to do deliveries or sell goods online to earn extra income. The hospital's leadership was very concerned about how to help staff increase their income using their skills, while also ending the long waits for patients from midnight onwards."

"That's why the resolution on after-hours medical examinations received great support, with more than 2,000 staff members registering to participate," Dr. Giap shared.

Associate Professor Dr. Dao Xuan Co informed that the revenue from after-hours medical examination and treatment activities, after deducting financial obligations, will be converted into income for the employees directly involved. This is a legitimate and legal additional income for all voluntary employees.

"The hospital will have appropriate mechanisms and policies to protect the rights of doctors when participating in out-of-hours medical examinations and treatments. They will be protected legally and their rights better than even private clinics," Mr. Co informed.