In the mid-March of 2020, Ms. N.T.P.T. in Hanoi preparing to return to China to work, she had previously delayed because of the epidemic, so she could not delay any more. To be allowed to enter, the Chinese side requires Ms. T. to have a certificate of not being infected with the new strain of corona virus.
When she asked in many places, she received the answer: only people at risk can be tested and this test (about 2 million VND/test if performed at the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology) due to the budget. pay.
However, the need for testing to go to work and school is real, and if done according to the needs of the customer, it is considered a service, the person in need will pay the fee, but until recently when the number of COVID-19 testing facilities allowed by the Ministry of Health to increase to nearly 40 facilities, only those with legitimate needs can pay and get tested.
Where to expand testing?
Responding to the press recently, the Ministry of Health said that Vietnam currently has no shortage of test products. "The Ministry of Health has just received 200,000 rapid test kits imported from Korea, this number will be reserved for screening tests for people in isolation areas, people related to Bach Mai Hospital, who are isolated at home" - Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long, Deputy Minister of Health, said.
In addition, in the last week of March and the first week of April, the Ministry of Health received 200,000 Realtime PCR tests, this is a test with very high sensitivity and specificity, being used in many laboratories throughout Vietnam. .
With the number of rapid test kits, Hanoi is the first locality to use it to screen out a group of more than 16,000 people who have been to Bach Mai Hospital for medical examination and treatment, sick visit, or funeral since March 12, but so far not detect any cases by rapid test. All positives were false positives after being retested.
In the future, testing will continue to expand, cross-sectional investigation can be carried out in a ward or commune at risk to assess pathogens in the community according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health. The World Health Organization also recommends that Vietnam conduct testing in subjects with epidemiological factors, who have been in an outbreak, returned from overseas epidemic areas, have cough, fever...
In addition, with the increased number of laboratories authorized to test for COVID-19, it is possible to expand on-demand testing services to the public without increasing budget costs.
Screening patients right at the main gate of the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, patients and their family come here are equipped with a droplet shield to prevent disease - Photo: VIET DUONG
Currently in Ho Chi Minh City, in addition to 5 public units including Pasteur Institute, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Children's Hospital 1, Thong Nhat Hospital and University Hospital of Medicine and Pharmacy, FV Hospital is a medical unit. The first private person to be tested for corona virus.
In particular, Thong Nhat Hospital and FV Hospital have deployed COVID-19 testing services on demand.
Previously, the Government and the Ministry of Health were having to carry out free testing for all subjects required to be tested: people with epidemiological factors (coming from epidemic areas, having contact with infected or suspected people). infected with COVID-19), who have suspected symptoms. People are not subject to mandatory testing, even if the demand for voluntary testing is not met.
Dr. Jean-Marcel Guillon, general director of FV Hospital, said that according to the decision of the Ministry of Health, from April 3, FV Hospital will be able to conduct tests to serve people who are voluntary people who want to be tested. Coronavirus. The cost of a test at the hospital is 3 million VND.
For the safety of patients and family members who come to FV during the epidemic, FV has a screening process to classify subjects subject to mandatory testing (with epidemiological factors and symptoms) for isolation according to regulations. determined. Persons subject to mandatory testing, FV Hospital immediately notify the Center for Disease Control of Ho Chi Minh City to organize testing at free testing units.
In case people choose to be tested at FV Hospital, they must pay the test fee upon request.
According to doctor Jean-Marcel Guillon, since being allowed to carry out on-demand testing (April 3-4) until now, FV Hospital has performed dozens of tests every day and has not detected any positive cases.
For suspected cases, it's not just a one-time test. The patient will have to be isolated until it is confirmed that he is not infected. The procedure may require a CT scan of the lungs, a second and third test.
Doctor Truong Quang Anh Vu - head of the general planning department of Thong Nhat Hospital - said that in addition to performing corona virus testing for patients transferred by the Center for Disease Control of Ho Chi Minh City (free of charge), the hospital Thong Nhat has implemented a paid test for patients with symptoms and worries about being infected with COVID-19, from April 6.
However, not all patients who want to be tested must go through the medical examination process. When examining, the doctor finds that the patient has symptoms of fever, respiratory infection, has been in contact with a foreigner, is near an area where someone infected with COVID-19 can be tested.
To date, Thong Nhat Hospital has tested 15 suspected cases (F2) and all have negative results.
HCM City to upgrade screening process
On the morning of April 7, people who came to Thong Nhat Hospital (HCMC) were screened and declared their epidemiological history - Photo: DUYEN PHAN
Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health said that currently the city cannot carry out large-scale testing because there are not enough test kits meeting the necessary standards. To prevent the COVID-19 epidemic, medical facilities have implemented a screening process right from the start.
At the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, everyone who comes is protected by instructions to wash hands and disinfect, then conduct body temperature measurement and electronic medical declaration in order and keep a distance of 2m.
If there are no epidemiological factors and suspected symptoms, the patient and his/her relatives will be glued on the shirt with the logo by the medical staff with the words: "Temperature checked. Screened" to move on to the departments, room. Those who have epidemiological factors or have suspicious symptoms will be taken to a field clinic located on the hospital premises.
"The screening is to protect the medical facility - where many patients with diseases are being treated. If the screening is not well organized, a positive case may appear in the hospital area. Bach Hospital Mai (Hanoi) is a warning for all remaining medical facilities to upgrade screening," said MSc Au Thanh Tung.
Similarly, Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion and Hematology Hospital also conducts body temperature measurement and medical declaration (in paper) at the gate for everyone who comes to donate blood or contact for work. On the ground floor of the hospital, blood donors will have their blood pressure measured and fill out a blood donation form. Previously, these things would be done at the blood receiving department, but to increase the distance, the hospital arranged blood pressure measurement and blood donation desks on two separate floors. (SPRING TOMORROW)
