Truong Thi Mai, chairwoman of the NA Committee on Social Issues, said the committee and the Ministry of Public Health had agreed with the suggestion made at the previous NA session held in June, that healthcare officials be allowed to work part-time for the private sector.

The prohibition on officials setting up private facilities is aimed at curbing malpractices including asking patients at public hospitals to visit private hospitals or diagnostic centers, or even forcing them to buy medicines at private pharmacies.

NA Office Chief Tran Dinh Dan and the head of its Economic Committee, Ha Van Hien, said allowing healthcare officials to work part-time will help reduce overload at public hospitals and improve their income.

Dan also expressed his concern about the unethical collusion between doctors and pharmaceutical sales representatives that undermine the patients’ interests.

“There is no easy way to control this collusion. And patients tend to comply with doctor’s prescriptions at any cost,” he said, calling for regulations to curb this malpractice.

Reported by Xuan Toan