Over recent times, Da Nang has recorded thousands of COVID-19 recoveries every day. A lot of people go to competent medical facilities, mainly ward/commune medical stations, to take COVID19 negative confirmation tests and get certifications proving their full recovery, one of the steps to receive full salary from their employers during their days off for COVID-19 treatment as part of social insurance benefits.

In an attempt to avoid crowding that pose a great risk of COVID-19 infection at these medical facilities, the city’s healthcare sector is asking its units to handle administrative procedures in a prompt yet effective manner and minimise overloads there.

The application of information technology, changing the way of handling procedures for those infected with COVID-19 helps medical stations reduce the overload. The staff of the Tho Quang Ward Medical Station in Son Tra District are seen verifying  sent-via-Zalo videos showing the process of  COVID-19 tests conducted by COVID-19 patients during their home-based treatment. (Photo taken on March 9). Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Promoting the use of tech apps for flexible handling procedures

According to physician Dinh Thi Kim Thoa, Head of the Hoa Khanh Bac Ward Medical Station in Lien Chieu District, on average, this site receives about 400 visitors per day who need to go through COVID-19 tests conducted here after their home-based treatment period. If they are confirmed to be negative for the virus through these tests, they will get certifications proving their recovery.

Over recent days, crowding at this site has stopped thanks to its effective change to the way in receiving and handling procedures.

Likewise, the Tho Quang Ward Medical Station in Son Tra District has promoted the information technology (IT) applications to reduce the work load for its medical staff and limit visitor overloads as well.

Specifically, when recording COVID-infected citizens under treatment at home, the station’s medical staff are assigned to monitor these patients, collect patient information and monitor their health situation.

On the 7^th day of their home-based treatment, instead of having their swabs taken by the station’s medical workers for COVID-19 tests, the patients are instructed to make clips of conducting rapid COVID-19 tests right at home and send them to the station. If the confirmation result is negative, the station grants them certifications stating their recovery from the disease. This approach both helps the station to actively regulate and arrange human resources while avoiding the situation of crowding.
 

The staff of the Hoa Khanh Bac Ward Health Station, Lien Chieu District receive and handle procedures confirming COVID-19 infections. (Photo taken on March 6). Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Most favourable conditions created for people

With regard to the granting of certifications for COVID-infected employees’ access to social insurance benefits after their full recovery from COVID-19, doctor Truong Van Trinh, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Health said that, the national authorities have yet to release specific regulations on issuing these papers to those who have undergone home-based treatment.

In fact, medical stations do not have the function of signing leave of absence at work due to COVID-19 for these subjects.

In a supportive move, the municipal Department of Health and the Da Nang branch of the Viet Nam Social Security have agreed on a number of contents to ensure benefits for workers infected with COVID-19.

COVID-infected people who are referred for from competent medical establishments to home for continued treatment and isolation, local medical stations, including mobilised ones, will be allowed to grant certifications for their enjoyment of paid leave under the social insurance benefits.

Meanwhile, those voluntarily self-treat at home and do not make medical declarations according to the law will be not eligible for the granting of the above-mentioned papers.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by A.THU