Speaking at the National Assembly's discussion session on socio-economic issues on October 29, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan frankly acknowledged a series of hot issues impacting the healthcare sector, from violence against medical staff, population aging, human resource training, to equipment procurement and salary policies. 

The minister emphasized that “the health sector is facing unprecedented pressures, but doctors cannot be left alone amid occupational risks”.

Opening her speech, she highlighted the situation of medical staff being assaulted. The health sector has strengthened coordination with the Ministry of Public Security to ensure hospital security and order, reduce overload, improve service quality and patient satisfaction.

"We have repeatedly proposed strict handling of violence cases against medical staff, but in reality, the deterrent effect is still not strong enough," she said frankly.

The amended Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023 already has provisions to ensure hospital security and safety and prohibits acts infringing on the life and health of medical staff while on duty. However, the minister said, “unfortunately, the law does not clearly stipulate that violence against medical staff means resisting public officials”.

There have been 6 cases of violence against medical staff reported so far this year. 

“The incident at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, when nurse Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang was stabbed multiple times, is a wake-up call, the last straw. If there are no stronger solutions, violence will not stop,” Lan said.

Lan proposed that the NA revise the current laws, referring the act of assaulting medical staff while performing medical examination and treatment as ‘resisting public officials’ to have a legal basis for strict handling with sufficient deterrence.

“Every medical staff member is directly fighting to save patients' lives, and they need to be protected by law and society like protecting human lives,” Lan emphasized.

Regarding the human resource training policy for the health sector, Lan reported that there are 214 training institutions, of which the Ministry of Health (MOH) directly manages 11 leading schools. The remaining institutions are managed by the Ministry of Education and Training under the Education Law.

Lan affirmed that MOH will closely cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training in appraising and reviewing practice hospitals and the operations of the National Medical Council.

NA deputy Tran Khanh Thu from Hung Yen has recently also expressed her concern over the recent continuous assaults on medical staff. She said these incidents are no longer isolated cases but have become a painful problem, threatening the safety of those doing life-saving work.

Thu cited the incident that occurred when a child was admitted for emergency in Nam Dinh causing public outrage. Just two days later, another assault on medical staff occurred in the same locality. 

“Sadly, instead of speaking up to protect the victims, public opinion commented that the ‘medical staff might do something wrong to be assaulted'. Two days later, the patient's relatives apologized citing hot temper and worry, then everything sank into silence," Thu said.

Thu noted that past assaults often occurred in emergency department, where emotions and pressure run high. But recently, the situation has worsened: medical workers have been attacked even in neonatal wards, the place that should be “the most peaceful in a hospital.” 

“Healthcare workers have literally shed blood in their workplaces,” she stressed.

Thu affirmed that these incidents have been predicted for a long time and tend to become more serious. “The health sector cannot develop without mechanisms to protect and support its workers. We are not machines, but people with hearts, needing understanding and respect," she said.

The deputy proposed adding to the National Assembly's Resolution on the 2026 socio-economic development plan the content: “Ensure medical cadres and staff work in a safe environment; acts of using force, threatening or obstructing medical staff while performing duties at medical facilities are acts of resisting public officials".

The deputy proposed including in the National Assembly’s resolution on the 2026 socio-economic development plan the following clause: “Ensure that healthcare officials and workers can work in a safe environment; any act of using force, threatening, or obstructing medical staff while performing their duties at healthcare facilities shall be considered obstruction of public officials.”

In addition, she suggested recognizing as martyrs those medical workers who die in the line of duty, and as war invalids those who are injured. “This is not a new proposal, but amendments to the Ordinance on People with Meritorious Services and Decree 131/2021 are needed to prevent healthcare workers from being treated unfairly,” the deputy emphasized.

“We cannot allow our ‘white-shirt soldiers’ to sacrifice their own lives while saving others’ lives. It is time for concrete and strict actions to protect our medical professionals and restore the dignity and rightful status of the health sector in society,” Deputy Tran Khanh Thu concluded.

Tran Thuong