Police posts to be set up at hospital to prevent assaults at hospitals
>> Vietnam sees rise in doctor assaults
Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien on April 17 asked the police to intensify their presence at hospitals by setting up police posts to ensure the safety of health workers following a rise in the number of hospital assaults.
"Don't abandon health workers, so that they can save the patients including the attackers' family. Assaulting doctors is a criminal offence," Tien said.
A man in Hanoi was jailed for nine months last year after hitting a doctor. The man wanted to transfer his child to another hospital but the doctor said they could help them. In the end, the doctor agreed to the transfer. However, when the doctor was signing the decision, the man suddenly hit him on the head with a cup.
Tien went on to say that the offenders must be investigated and strictly punished. Violence has been curbed after Vietnam Czech Friendship Hospital and Ninh Binh Hospital worked with the police. Many other assault cases at hospitals are also being investigated.
When being asked about doctors' attitude or their private life that may be the causes of the assaults, Tien said it was the health sector's problem that must be addressed, but it was not the excuse to commit violence.
"I strongly oppose violence at hospitals no matter what or who and the attackers must be punished," she said.
On April 7, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien suggested including the security fee into the hospital bill as violence at hospitals was on the rise. Most hospitals have very few security guards and many of them are not professionals. He opposed the idea that they should march to protest violence at hospitals.
Up to 25 assaults against health workers were recorded last year. Cases included when doctors were attacked because they refused to conduct a fluid infusion for a drunken patient, prevented a fight between patients or when their diagnosis was suspected to be wrong.
Patients receive emergency aid at a hospital in Hanoi (Photo nld.vn)
"Don't abandon health workers, so that they can save the patients including the attackers' family. Assaulting doctors is a criminal offence," Tien said.
A man in Hanoi was jailed for nine months last year after hitting a doctor. The man wanted to transfer his child to another hospital but the doctor said they could help them. In the end, the doctor agreed to the transfer. However, when the doctor was signing the decision, the man suddenly hit him on the head with a cup.
Tien went on to say that the offenders must be investigated and strictly punished. Violence has been curbed after Vietnam Czech Friendship Hospital and Ninh Binh Hospital worked with the police. Many other assault cases at hospitals are also being investigated.
When being asked about doctors' attitude or their private life that may be the causes of the assaults, Tien said it was the health sector's problem that must be addressed, but it was not the excuse to commit violence.
"I strongly oppose violence at hospitals no matter what or who and the attackers must be punished," she said.
On April 7, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien suggested including the security fee into the hospital bill as violence at hospitals was on the rise. Most hospitals have very few security guards and many of them are not professionals. He opposed the idea that they should march to protest violence at hospitals.
Up to 25 assaults against health workers were recorded last year. Cases included when doctors were attacked because they refused to conduct a fluid infusion for a drunken patient, prevented a fight between patients or when their diagnosis was suspected to be wrong.
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