Why can't the second facility of the two hospitals be put into operation?

Current status of Viet Duc Hospital's second facility in January (Photo: Nguyen Hai).

The investment project to build the second facility of Bach Mai Hospital and the investment project to build the second facility of Viet Duc Friendship Hospital were implemented according to Decision No. 125/QD-TTg dated January 16, 2014 of the Prime Minister.

The goal is to build these two hospitals into central hospitals that meet modern, synchronous standards, have advanced management and operation mechanisms, and have medical examination and treatment levels on par with those of advanced countries in the region... At the same time, it will contribute to reducing overload at central hospitals and reducing the number of people having to go abroad for medical treatment.

This is also the first time Vietnam has a hospital built and operated according to international standards.

On October 21, 2018, the examination areas of both facilities were officially inaugurated.

However, after that, only the examination area of ​​Bach Mai Hospital was put into use for a period of time from March 2019 to March 2020, then announced to temporarily stop operating. This area was once requisitioned as a centralized quarantine area to prevent Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Viet Duc Hospital, branch 2, only stopped at the ribbon cutting ceremony and has never received any patients.

The examination area of ​​Bach Mai Hospital's second facility was put into use for a while and then temporarily stopped (Photo taken in January: Nguyen Hai).

According to the Ministry of Health, the reason for the two projects being behind schedule is due to not fully anticipating the problems arising during the project implementation process, especially the implementation of regulations in basic construction investment, specifically the implementation of construction contracts, which led to problems in the implementation of contracts and settlement and disbursement of capital.

Specifically, during the construction process, there were many adjustments and changes to many items according to the opinions of the two hospitals such as changing the air conditioning system, hot water, number of air conditioners, inpatient areas for doctors and nurses, etc., so the implementation time was exceeded.

In 2019, the Ministry of Health requested to extend the project implementation period. The project progress has been adjusted to December 31, 2020.

There were many problems during the construction and contract implementation process. In early 2021, the project was temporarily suspended.

To date, both hospitals have yet to be put into operation. Many items have yet to be completed. Most of the medical equipment has not been purchased or installed. In particular, many auxiliary areas are degraded, some areas have peeling walls covered with moss, the yard and garden are overgrown with weeds, becoming wild.

November 2024, construction resumes on the second facility project of Bach Mai and Viet Duc Hospitals

In a recent document responding to a petition from Hanoi voters, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that since 2018, the Government, the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health and relevant ministries have actively sought solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles for projects.

In 2023, the Prime Minister decided to establish an interdisciplinary working group headed by the Minister of Health; leaders of a number of ministries and branches are members.

The Ministry of Health and the Working Group have made efforts to review, research, and propose solutions to completely resolve the difficulties and problems of these projects and have completed the Solution to submit to the Government for consideration and decision.

Since early November 2024, the contractor has resumed construction. The Ministry of Health has resolutely directed the investor and contractors to urgently focus maximum resources on construction, ensuring the completion of the projects.

We have issued Resolution 34 but that is not all. The new Resolution helps us have some major mechanisms and principles to implement, but to put the 2 projects into operation, there is still a lot of work ahead. Therefore, we cannot breathe easy and think that the work is done, but we have to organize the implementation. We are determined to shorten the progress by at least 1 month.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long spoke at a working session on the afternoon of February 19 about the mechanism and solutions to handle difficulties and problems in these two projects.

On January 16, the Ministry of Health submitted Document No. 11/TTr-BYT to the Government requesting approval of a Resolution on mechanisms and solutions to handle difficulties and problems in these two projects.

On February 13, the Government issued Resolution No. 34/NQ-CP on mechanisms and solutions to handle difficulties and problems in the Bach Mai Hospital 2 Construction Investment Project and the Viet Duc Friendship Hospital 2 Construction Investment Project.

This Resolution provides mechanisms and solutions to remove difficulties, ensure the completion of investment and construction of the two projects in 2025, and at the same time ensure human resources and other necessary factors to effectively operate the two hospitals immediately after completion and putting into use.

To implement Resolution No. 34, the Ministry of Health issued Decision No. 585/QD-BYT dated February 17 on the establishment of the Working Group and Plan No. 218/KH-BYT dated February 19 for implementation.

The Ministry of Health is directing the investor, contractors, two hospitals and related units to urgently implement procedures to adjust contracts, organize construction, purchase and install medical equipment.

In particular, ensuring the completion of the construction of the Bach Mai Hospital 2 Facility Investment Project and the Viet Duc Friendship Hospital 2 Facility Investment Project in 2025 in accordance with Resolution No. 34 of the Government.

2 facilities to be operational this year

On the afternoon of February 19, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long and his delegation inspected the second facility project of Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc Friendship Hospital (Photo: Tran Minh).

Also according to the above document, regarding ensuring human resources, the Ministry of Health has directed the two hospitals to be proactive in preparing human resources through recruiting human resources for the second facility. In particular, Bach Mai Hospital has a Medical College, which is a favorable factor for training and improving the quality of human resources for both facilities.

At the same time, hospitals need to develop job placement projects, phased human resource plans, and roadmaps appropriate to the stages of completing infrastructure and medical equipment (including planning, appointment, rotation, reception, recruitment, domestic and overseas training, etc.) for the second facility of the two hospitals. Research to supplement funding for human resource training for the two hospitals according to regulations.

Regarding the financial management, investment and equipment procurement mechanisms, the Ministry of Health will continue to advise and propose specific mechanisms to the Prime Minister and competent authorities to supplement funding in accordance with the planning project of the two hospitals, supporting the two hospitals in the first years of operating the second facility.

In order to put the two projects into operation soon and avoid waste, the Ministry of Health has been resolutely directing the investor, contractor, two hospitals and related agencies and units to carry out procedures for contract adjustment, construction organization, procurement and installation of medical equipment. In particular, ensuring the completion of the construction of the two above projects in 2025.

Construction of the two projects is nearly complete (Photo: Nguyen Hai).

According to the project management board representative, the unit has coordinated with general contractors to ensure the progress of the Bach Mai Hospital project, which is expected to be completed and have equipment installed on August 15.

The contractor of Viet Duc Hospital committed to completing the construction by October 15.

Responding to reporters at the regular Government press conference on the afternoon of January 8, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen also pledged that the Ministry of Health will continue to direct the removal of obstacles in the Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc Hospital 2 project, striving to put it into operation in 2025.

Previously, answering the press on the afternoon of December 20, 2024, Deputy Minister of Health Le Duc Luan also said that, regarding the construction part, Bach Mai Hospital's second facility was 97% complete, with 3% remaining, and Viet Duc Hospital's second facility was also 85% complete, with only 15% remaining. According to the Deputy Minister, regarding the construction part with the 6-month part (as previously requested by the Prime Minister), there is probably no difficulty.

"Regarding medical equipment approved from 2014-2015, we will review to compare with actual implementation and organize the procurement of medical equipment, each project costs nearly 1,000 billion VND. The goal is that if the difficulties and obstacles are accepted by competent authorities, we will complete the construction in 2025," said Deputy Minister Luan.

In 2014, the problem of reducing overload at upper-level hospitals became more urgent than ever. At that time, the sight of patients lying 3-4 people in one bed, even lying under the bed, made many people sigh.

For this reason, in January 2014, the Prime Minister approved the project "Investing in the construction of 5 new central and tertiary hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City", including 2 investment projects to build new facilities 2 of Bach Mai and Viet Duc Hospitals.

In December 2014, the Ministry of Health approved the new investment project for these two central hospitals. The implementation period for both hospitals is from 2014 to 2017. The project is invested by the Management Board of Key Medical Projects, Ministry of Health.

Bach Mai Hospital's second facility has a scale of 1,000 beds, with a total floor area of ​​118,941m2. The total investment is 4,990 billion VND, with 4,500 billion VND from the State budget and other sources.

Facility 2 of Viet Duc Friendship Hospital has a scale of 1,000 beds, total floor area of ​​117,714m2. Total investment is 4,968 billion VND, state budget capital is 4,500 billion VND and other sources.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/khi-nao-2-benh-vien-nghin-ty-bi-bo-hoang-se-di-vao-hoat-dong-20250402211611160.htm