LookAtVietnam – A total 18 waste treatment projects at State-owned hospital in HCMC cannot be executed to schedule due to a severe shortage of investment capital, said the HCMC Department of Health.

The city give priority to medical wastewater treatment projects because such projects would help protect local residents’ health and the environment.

Those in dire need of capital include major hospitals like Nguyen Trai Hospital, Respiratory Hospital, Cardiology and Tumor clinics, Nguyen Tri Phuong, Binh Dan, Tu Du, and Trung Vuong to name but a few. The city government has yet to arrange funds for such hospitals, although treatment of medical waste is seen an urgent task to better protect the environment.

Nguyen Van Chau, director of the city’s Department of Health said that medical waste projects were progressing slower than expected due to slow disbursement.

“The main reason is the lack of fund although the city had agreed to supply VND60 billion for medical waste treatment projects since 2007. Up to date, however, 18 projects have completed every necessary construction and investment procedure but they have not received the initial fund for deployment yet,” Chau explained.

“We have finished formalities and sent document to ask the city’s authorities for fund. If the approval is forthcoming, hospitals will deploy the projects soon and complete them late this year,” Chau said.

According to Chau, the changing investment and bidding formalities are the culprits. In addition, changing prices of construction materials is another reason behind delays as hospitals are told to adjust their investment proposals.

Chau suggested that the city give priority to medical wastewater treatment projects because such projects would help protect local residents’ health and the environment.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Minh Hoang, head of the Economy and Budget Commission under the city’s People’s Council, said at a recent meeting that it was difficult to secure investment for such health care projects. However, his commission would suggest the city give priority to these urgent ones.

VietNamNet/SGT