In Vietnam, having a great deal of “special relationships” is helpful. Most Vietnamese take advantage of “special relationships” for their house documents, taxation, purchasing their motorcycles (or cars) or finding a suitable school for their children.

Undoubtedly, this is an evident consequence produced from a society in which Vietnamese people have to face corruption, bribery and harassment from several public servants, nurses,and doctors. The appearance of brokers (“cò” in Vietnamese) is indispensable, and they make profit from both the imperfections of social organizations and the anxious psychology of the people.

To eliminate completely this prolonged problem, it is necessary to remove one of these factors.

However, the government needs first to push forward some improvements in several phases of public services so that people will gradually stop taking advantage of their “special relationships”. Especially in public medical services, at present, in front of the gate of some renowned public hospitals located in big cities brokers can be seen rambling around to benefit from these overloaded facilities.

Recently, along with the increase in the number of doctors and nurses, the number of advanced medical equipment invested in hospitals has also been upped significantly. Unlike this expensive equipment, the emilination of the broker problem does not require a considerable expense, thanks to an exceedingly cheap solution: registering medical examinations on mobile phones using identity card numbers.

Firstly, the government will give instructions concerning registering medical examinations on mobile phones for hospitals and patients. Then, the patients will telephone the hospital they want to register at for a medical examination.

An automated answering machine will guide the patients to press necessary keys and ask them to leave their name, age and identify card number. Finally, the patients will receive an SMS with information detailing their medical examination with a notification, “Please come at the right date and time of your medical examination. Any delay is absolutely rejected.”

This whole cyle is automatic and self-contained. Therefore, no intervention is possible. It is a bit complicated for hospitals to arrange beds and surgical schedules. Subsequently, strict measures are needed. In case of any harm to a patient caused by an unreasonable postponment, the deans and the whole staff of the hospital will be held responsible, and even removed from their post in case the incident turns out to be grave.

The solution that I venture to propose here is certainly not an innovative one compared with other more progressive solutions which have been put into practice around the world. I wish nothing better than to eliminate broker problem in public hospitals in order to help people stop taking advantage of their “special relationships”.