Improving the quality of healthcare after administrative mergers

Following the merger of commune-level administrative units, Tuyen Quang Province’s grassroots healthcare system has quickly stabilized and maintained effective primary medical services for residents. Commune and ward health stations continue to play their role as the “gatekeepers” of public health while strengthening preventive healthcare and organizing regular medical check-ups, especially for priority groups.

People of Sa Phin commune receive free annual health check-ups.

The core goal of Tuyen Quang’s health sector is to ensure uninterrupted medical services after the administrative merger. The Department of Health has advised the provincial People’s Committee to issue regulations defining the functions, tasks, and powers of affiliated medical centers, while directing the reorganization of commune-level health stations under the new administrative structure. Currently, the province has 24 regional general clinics, 100 newly reorganized commune health stations, and 203 satellite health points. Maintaining these stations has helped reduce geographical barriers, making healthcare services more accessible to local people.

Preventive healthcare activities are regularly implemented, such as providing dermatological and leprosy examinations for people in Bac Me commune; organizing annual health check-ups for the elderly in Meo Vac, Sung Mang, Khau Vai, Tat Nga, and Son Vi communes; and conducting health education sessions on adolescent care at schools in Vi Xuyen. These initiatives raise public awareness and bring quality medical services closer to people in remote areas, reducing travel costs and promoting comprehensive community healthcare.

To further enhance the quality of healthcare, the Department of Health has focused on training and professional development for local medical staff. A course on “Commune Health Stations Operating under the Family Medicine Model” is currently underway, with 162 doctors and physicians participating, and five training sessions in November for 288 population officers and collaborators. These programs help grassroots medical workers strengthen their management capacity and improve personal and community healthcare skills, thereby reducing the workload for higher-level hospitals.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain in terms of human resources, infrastructure, and system management consistency. The health sector and local authorities are working on comprehensive solutions, from infrastructure investment and equipment upgrades to personnel attraction policies, to further develop the primary healthcare system, ensuring it continues to fulfill its vital role as the “gatekeeper” protecting public health.

Nhat Quang