The Ministry of Health compiled to a draft plan on mitigating overcrowding of hospitals during the 2012-2020 period.

Hanoi Obstetrics Hospital's ultrasound room serves 500 patients per day

Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the ministry’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, said that one of the plan’s purposes is to improve medical service for people.

The programme would focus on reducing the doctors' patient load to 50 people maximum per day, compared with the hundreds of patients who seek check-ups now. By 2020 the figure is expected to be reduced to 35.

The ministry plans to add at least around 11,350 beds to hospitals that have too many patients in Hanoi and HCM City, as well as centrally controlled hospitals.

The ministry plans to add at least 1,700 sickbeds to hospitals in Hanoi and at least 3,000 sickbeds in HCM City. The plan also includes  6,650 for centrally controlled hospitals.

According to Khue, the wider priority is to establish a national plan for better healthcare.

The ministry plans to build modern multi-functional medical complexes in the five residential areas of Gia Lam – Long Bien, Hoa Lac, Soc Son, Phu Xuyen and Son Tay.

Meanwhile, it will develop medical service facilities in four of HCM City’s outlying areas.

The ministry also plans to build up a network of satellite hospitals.

The plan includes oncological wards at 15 satellite hospitals for Hospital K and Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital.

Twenty obstetrics wards will be established at 20 satellite hospitals for the Hanoi-based Central Obstetrics Hospital and the HCM City-based Tu Du Obstetrics Hospital.

Around 20 paediatrics wards will be set up at 20 satellite hospitals for the Central Paediatrics Hospital in Hanoi, and Paediatrics 1 Hospital and Paediatrics Hospital 2 in HCM City.

Currently, many hospitals in Hanoi and HCM City have to serve from 2,000-4,000 patients each day. Several hospitals conduct between 100 and 120 operations each day.