The Department of Health has petitioned the People’s Committee in Hanoi to raise hospital fees from now until 2015, according to one health official on September 20.
Luu Thi Lien, deputy director of the Department of Health, said the department has asked for an increase in fees for 690 out of 2,062 medical services and techniques.
Once the fees are raised, patients will pay VND18,000 ($0.86) for examination in air-conditioned rooms and VND16,000 ($0.77) in non-conditioned rooms in first class hospitals.
Similarly, they will pay VND14,000 and VND12,000 respectively in second class hospitals. Medical clinics in districts will charge VND4,000.
For beds, the hike will be 77 percent this year, 88 percent in 2013 and 100 percent in 2015 in first class hospitals; and 75 percent this year, 80 percent in 2013 and 85 percent in 2015 in second class hospitals.
According to the Ministry of Health, around 50 provinces in the country have so far approved a new price margin for hospital fees. Some province leaders have agreed to an increase of 85 to 90 percent, while surprisingly some of the larger hospitals in big cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang have not applied for hike in fees.
