This is the first time that the municipal Health Department has organized training for foreign doctors, nurses and medical interpreters.
48 Chinese medical practitioners and more than 120 nurses and medical interpreters working at local clinics attended the training course that dealt with updated regulations and professional knowledge on health examinations and treatment.
The course was held by specialists from the Health Department as well as experts from leading hospitals specializing in obstetrics and gynaecology, surgery, and otorhinolaryngology.
On the first day, course participants gained practical knowledge at the Tu Du, ENT and Binh Dan hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City. Experts at these hospitals instructed the participants in diagnosis, indications and contraindications, as well as recent case reviews on complications arising from improper diagnosis and treatment.
The course followed findings by the HCMC Health Department that foreign practitioners, particularly Chinese nationals, did not have a thorough grasp of Vietnam's current laws on medical practice.
The department said it has also provided operational guidance, set quality standards, conducted assessments of general health clinics and publicized the results.
Health Department director Nguyen Tan Binh said that HCMC currently has 94 clinics with foreign personnel, of which 12 clinics are Chinese-run.
There have been complaints from many people that Chinese clinics in city are operating carelessly. After inspecting these premises, authorities found that most Chinese clinics were violating regulations by not keeping medical records, not fully filling out records or maintaining them, Binh said.
Furthermore, these Chinese clinics advertise services not within the scope of their licenses, as well as services not certified by a competent authority. These clinics also charge higher prices than advertised, he added.
The department has already suspended three clinics, and imposed fines of VND1.2 billion ($51,836) in 39 individual cases, Binh said.