Several major hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City have resolved issues related to shortages of medications, medical supplies, and equipment, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday evening.

Medication shortages are now limited only to rare, low-cost medicines or those seldom used by the hospitals, primarily due to supply chain disruptions.

Explaining the drug shortage, Le Ngoc Danh, head of the Pharmaceutical Professional Unit under the municipal Department of Health, said that supply chain discontinuations, rather than purchase mechanisms, were the root of the issue.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Nhan at Children's Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City said that the hospital was able to solve its shortage issue by joining pharmaceutical tenders.

The shortage of Gamma globulin used in the treatment of hand-foot-and-mouth disease last year resulted from supply disruptions, she recounted.

Nguyen Minh Anh, deputy head of the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, said Decree 24 issued by the government in late February has facilitated bidding on medications, allowing the hospital to ease its shortage of drugs and medical equipment. 

The hospital serves up to 8,000 outpatients and over 1,000 inpatients daily.

Pham Thanh Viet, deputy head of Cho Ray Hospital, which admits up to 6,000 outpatients every day, said that only rare and low-cost medications are in short supply.

Apart from global supply chain disruptions, just a few suppliers joined tenders for some certain drugs that are too cheap, he explained.

In early August, several hospitals in the southern metropolis requested help when shortfalls of medications and equipment began affecting patient health.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!