Evaluating working effectiveness

of commune/ward doctors at some localities

Luu Hoai Chuan, Vu Thi Minh Hanh et al

Place of publication: Department of science and training - Ministry of Health

Year of publication: 2003

Objectives: To evaluate working effectiveness of doctors at the commune/ward level; to analyze affecting factors and propose solutions to increase their working effectiveness.

Place of the study: Ha Tay, Hoa Binh, Thua Thien Hue, Dak Lak, Kon Tum and Tay Ninh.

Methods: a combination of restrospective, qualitative and quantitative methods.

Subjects: groups of managers, commune/ward doctors and people.

Findings: Sending doctors to work at the commune level is a sound policy. However, the rate of progress in the implementation of this policy is not equal in different localities.

More than 80% of the commune/ward doctors are the local people. 53% are male doctors; 90% are between 30-45 years of age; 51,3% had formal training. They are currently in charge of important activities such as examination and treatment, management of the target national health programmes, health communication and education and being the leaders of health stations.

Doctors coming to work at the commune/ward health stations have made positive changes: improving people's health situation, increasing the indicators of the national health programmes and especially increasing the use of technical services at the health stations, increasing the indicator of patient attraction. However, o­nly 49,1% of the doctors are satisfied with the present work, 80% are facing difficulties in life, 70% feel the lack of knowledge, 60% - lack of equipments, 40% - lack of medicine...

In order to increase working effectiveness of commune/ward doctors, it is necessary to focus the resource training o­n local people, apply flexible modes of recruitment and training modes suitable for this group; apply prioritized allowances, reasonable personel organisation at commune/ward health centres, adjust regulations about technical responsibilities of health levels and improve facilities and equipments of the health centres.