HCMC – The HCMC government has written to the Ministries of Finance and Health proposing allowing private hospitals in the city to offer Covid-19 treatment services on demand and collect checkup and treatment fees that would be higher than those at public hospitals.
The proposal was made based on the proposals of private hospitals and the municipal Department of Health, the local media reported.
According to the city, private hospitals charge higher rates than public hospitals as the salaries of medical workers at private hospitals are higher.
If treatment fees at private and public hospitals are kept the same, private hospitals cannot afford to maintain their Covid treatment services.
However, the State cannot pay different fees at public and private hospitals for the same services.
According to private hospitals, many patients are willing to pay treatment fees. This will also help ease the pressure on the State budget.
In case the State budget covers part or all of the treatment fees, the HCMC government proposed the Ministries of Health and Finance look into the payment for private hospitals.
Earlier, the Ministry of Health and HCMC had called on private medical centers to participate in the treatment of Covid-19 patients, including Trieu An and City International Hospitals in Binh Tan District, Xuyen A Hospital in Cu Chi District and Nam Sai Gon Hospital in Binh Chanh District.
