Tang Chi Thuong, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, announced this on 1/7, adding that the plan has been approved by the city's People's Committee. Within 60 days, 443 existing commune-level health stations will be reorganized into 168 new stations under the jurisdiction of regional medical centers (formerly district-level centers). Each station will be named after its corresponding locality.
The remaining stations will become health clinics managed by the new stations. The city will also establish additional clinics, bringing the total to 296, to improve residents' access to primary care.
"The existing 443 commune-level health stations will continue their current functions to avoid disrupting primary healthcare services," Thuong said.
The medical centers will receive additional staff to ensure all stations and clinics meet the requirements for health insurance coverage. These requirements include proper licensing and adequate supplies of medicine, chemicals, and medical equipment appropriate for the facility's specialization.
 |
Residents receive health checkups at a former ward health station in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Le Phuong |
Residents receive health checkups at a former ward health station in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Le Phuong
The 38 former district-level medical centers (17 with inpatient beds and 21 without) will become 38 regional medical centers overseeing the 168 commune-level health stations. The four former city-level medical centers with inpatient beds (in Districts 3, 5, 10, and Can Gio) will transition into regional centers without inpatient beds. Their former inpatient facilities will be repurposed to meet local healthcare needs.
The Military-Civilian Medical Center of Con Dao District will become the Military-Civilian Medical Center of Con Dao Special Zone, under the new Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, effective 1/7. Major city hospitals will provide specialist support to the Con Dao center.
Health officials believe the merger of three localities has expanded Ho Chi Minh City's area and population, increasing demand for healthcare. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the city's health sector to develop and achieve its goal of becoming a leading healthcare hub in the ASEAN region.
Le Phuong
