The Hanoi Department of Health has asked directors of public and private hospitals to ensure they have medicines, equipment, and staff during Tet holiday [the Lunar New Year].

The department has announced a list of 41 public hospitals, 30 medical centers, the Hanoi 115 Emergency Center, 42 private hospitals, and one private polyclinic that will provide emergency services during the country's longest holiday. 

Doctors welcome patients in the emergency department of Duc Giang General Hospital in Hanoi. File photo

The move aims to ensure that emergency cases, road accident victims, and emergency births are given due care during Tet.

The department has instructed the 115 Emergency Aid Center to deploy staff and ambulances to ensure timely response to out-of-hospital emergencies.

The city's Preventive Medical Center and district-level health centers will be responsible for monitoring potential epidemics and working with the Hanoi Food Safety Management Board to ensure that no food-related incidents occur.

The department has asked doctors not to refuse or delay any cases. "Doctors should also be prepared for an increase in the number of poisoning and stroke cases during this period," the department added.

The department has taken measures to ensure that all emergencies during the holiday will be handled in a timely manner. Healthcare facilities in Hanoi must ensure that doctors and other medical staff are on duty 24 hours a day, and that sufficient supplies of medicines and equipment are available.

Hospital managers, specialist doctors and hotline doctors, as well as security guards, should be on duty around the clock during the holiday. The names of the medical staff on duty should be posted on the hospital information board.

The department also asked health workers to pay special attention to those from poor and disadvantaged communities. In addition, hospitals will organize Tet celebrations for inpatients.

All hospitals, central and local pharmacy companies have to prepare enough medicine for a possible rise in pharmaceutical demand, while affordable pricing and quality also must be ensured.

The guidance also emphasized the need for health services to remain vigilant against possible epidemics such as dengue fever, influenza A, hand, foot and mouth disease, measles and rubella. It is necessary to take timely samples for testing and early diagnosis of pathogens, and to provide thorough treatment to prevent the spread of disease.

In addition, Hanoi's Health Department has drawn up a plan for hospitalization due to accidents, poisoning, and mass emergencies that may occur during Tet, such as stampedes in crowded tourist areas, traffic accidents, fights, victims of firecrackers, explosives, or food poisoning.