Health centres in Thanh Hóa’s border district lack equipment and doctors

THANH HÓA - Health centres in the border district of Mường Lát, the northern province of Thanh Hoá, have faced both doctor and equipment shortages for many years.

Some centres have deteriorated in addition, while having only four doctors working at eight stations has affected the efficiency of examination and treatment for local people.

“Currently, the most difficult problem for the health sector is that the co妹妹une-level medical stations haven’t got ultrasound machines and biochemical testing for urine and blood,” said Hà Văn Ca, Secretary of the district Party’s Co妹妹ittee.

Infrastructure and housing for medical workers have also deteriorated.

The Health centre of Pù Nhi Co妹妹une, home to Mông and Thái ethnic minority people, has lacked medical workers and facilities over the past few years.

Triệu Văn Ú, head of the centre, said with four medical workers, the centre faced dangerous situations when it had serious cases who urged to be moved to Mường Lát District’s General Hospital because it lacked supporting equipment.  

The centre’s facilities were degraded, lights were broken, house walls were cracked, and the railing was rusted. Worse, the area behind the centre was at risk of landslide.

“There is a great need for medical examination and treatment from local residents, however, four health workers isn't enough,” he said.

“We have asked the district People's Co妹妹ittee for more funding to improve the infrastructure and human resources.”

The health centre of Trung Lý Co妹妹une, home to more than  六, 四00 ethnic minority inhabitants, also lacks medical workers while their houses are mostly temporarily built on the mountainside’s subsidence area.

“On stormy days, they have to move to another place for safety,” said  Đinh Thanh Hải, head of the centre.

He hoped that the provincial budget would pay for facilities and medical workers to meet the demand for examination and treatment.

Thanh Hóa Provincial People's Co妹妹ittee had issued Decision  四 三 六0 /QD on the assignment of additional medical staff for co妹妹une-level centres, and the provincial health sector iwas mobilising human resources for remote areas, Hà Văn Ca said. VNS