Bach Mai Hospital, among Hanoi’s most renowned and popular public facilities, has rejected the rumors that Professor Nguyen Quang Tuan, the hospital’s director was arrested, Head of the hospital’s Human Resources and Organization Department Do Van Thanh told the media on April 13.

Thanh confirmed that it is a fake news. “Professor Tuan is still working after joining the delegation of the Minister of Health on a recent trip,” Thanh said.

Professor Nguyen Quang Tuan gives the decision to appoint a senior physician (Class I) on April 13. Photo: Bach Mai Hospital

“Currently, Bach Mai Hospital has nearly 4,300 employees and we place great trust in Professor Tuan,” he added.

Thanh noted the fact that the inspection conducted at the hospital is routine. Other hospitals in Hanoi are under inspection as well such as Viet Duc or Thanh Nhan. “Bach Mai Hospital is still operating normally,” Thanh stressed.

Regarding the recent change in the hospital’s staff of health workers, Thanh said that it is a normal practice. In substitution of physicians who quit the hospital, it has just recruited many high-qualified health workers.

Out of 221 people who quit their jobs at the hospital, only 43 are doctors and nurses, more than 100 are non-professional staff, thus, this is not brain drain, Thanh confirmed.

In the recent times, the number of patients has decreased as the Covid-19 pandemic causes fear of going to hospital, so health workers’ income has also been reduced to only 30%. Bach Mai Hospital is the first public self-financed health institution and 80% of its patients are covered by health insurance, which has affected considerably medical staff’s income.

While the hospital used to have 5,500 inpatients at a time and 7,000 others coming daily for health checks, there were times during the pandemic when it had barely 1,000 inpatients, Thanh said.

As a result, falling salaries and offers from competitors all led to the hospital’s health workers quitting. “However, the hospital restructured itself, excising certain departments and creating new ones. We decided to put quality first," Thanh emphasized.