One year after the Ministry of Health agreed to increase medical service charges to keep pace with inflation and improve services, 61 provinces in the country have begun to apply the new fee.
Most of the provinces raised charges from 60-80 percent, while some hospitals with advanced technology and better medical equipment have increased by 90 percent.
Representatives of the Department of Planning and Finance under the Ministry of Health said Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have not yet applied the new charges. The two cities are still building a medical price framework to submit to the People’s Council for approval.
In order not to cause any upheaval, the ministry has asked the two cities not to increase hospital charges at the same time because both the cities have many big hospitals and the hike can affect the consumer price index.
