HCMC – The HCMC Department of Health has urged hospitals and medical centers in the city, especially those in charge of receiving and treating Covid-19 patients, to enhance their Covid-19 prevention and treatment capacity.
Associate Professor Dr. Tang Chi Thuong, deputy director of the HCMC Health Department, asked the hospitals to report their use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and other medical equipment.
The hospitals must prepare for the scenario that the city would have 50-500 Covid-19 patients and ensure they do not turn into Covid-19 hotspots.
They should quickly identify and perform Covid-19 tests on patients with symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever, fatigue and respiratory infections, and take special care of patients from the same family, classroom or office, the elderly and people suffering from chronic diseases.
They should consult the HCMC Center for Disease Control or the Ministry of Health in case of special or unclear cases.
The hospitals have been asked to improve their Covid-19 testing capacity. The Health Department will finalize the criteria for hospitals that are capable of performing Covid-19 tests by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique. It will also announce on its website a list of hospitals in the city that have Covid-19 quarantine zones.
The city will offer a medical examination and treatment at home for people aged 60 years or older and those with underlying medical conditions. The Health Department will work with the HCMC Social Insurance to ensure the benefits of these patients.
