National Assembly deputies June 15 discussed the Medical Examination and Treatment Bill, with many calling for strengthening medical ethics and paying compensation to patients in malpractice cases.

Deputy Le Minh Hong of Ha Nam Province speaks at the National Assembly meeting on June 15, which discussed the Medical Examination and Treatment Bill (Photo: SGGP)

Most were in favor of a provision that all doctors should be required to get a practitioner's certificate.

Since there a large number of physicians in the country, the process of issuing certificates should be made systematic, Trieu Sy Lau, a deputy from northern Province of Cao Bang, said.

Another proposal many lawmakers approved was allowing public medical workers to work for private centers outside their duty hours. This would help meet the burgeoning demand for medical services, they said.

Truong Thi Thu Hang of southern Province of Dong Nai said: “It appears the bill is intended more for physicians than patients, since it does not mention the rights and duties of patients much.”
 
“The bill should have more specific provisions on what medical workers as well as patients are prohibited from doing in order to prevent wrongdoing,” Hoang Thi Huong of northern Province of Lang Son said.

She called for considering a French regulation on medical ethics for inclusion in the bill. It expressly bans physicians from paying commissions to healthcare intermediaries, overcharging patients, and colluding with pharmacies in writing prescriptions, she said.

Besides, medical workers should not demand or take any payments from patients over and above the hospital fees, she added.

The bill should also seeks to prevent patients from being unethical -- like asking doctors for false reports, she suggested.

Right to compensation

Deputy Le Minh Hong, a senior doctor from northern Province of Ha Nam, voiced concern about the refusal by hospitals to recognize test results from other hospitals, causing a waste of time and money for patients.

“The bill should require healthcare facilities to keep tests already done at other facilities to a minimum…,” he said.

Vu Hong Anh of Hanoi concurred, saying the bill should include a specific article on patients’ right to malpractice compensation from doctors and other medical workers.

Citing Article 5 in the bill that bans practitioners from providing examination or treatment beyond the competence indicated in their licenses, Dr Hong said there should be an exception to it – medical workers should be allowed to act during emergencies to save patients’ lives.