The current fees had to be adjusted in line with price rises for common commodities in the past 15 years, Xuyen said at a recent meeting between the ministry and representatives from 37 central-level hospitals.

The ministry has written a draft decree on the new charges. If approved, it will replace the old decree issued in 1995.

Under the draft, the fee for each health check-up, for example, will increase to between VND10,000-30,000 (US$0.5-1.6) from VND3,000 ($0.15).

The fee for using hospital beds will be five to 10 times higher than the current price of VND12,000 ($0.6)per bed, depending on the level of the hospital involved.

The deputy minister added that the replacement of worn-out machines, equipment and materials for providing health check-ups were not included in the fees.

Sharing the deputy minister's view, deputy director of the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Bach Quoc Khanh, said it cost the hospital VND26 billion ($1.3 million) for machinery maintenance and anti-bacterial works, but current fees were not enough to cover these costs.

Doctor Nguyen Truong Son from Hai Phong City's Institute of Maritime Medicine said the increase was essential to ensure hospitals had the money to pay for sanitation and anti-bacterial work.

Xuyen proposed a minimum fee of VND50,000 for each hospital bed per day, but she said the ministry would ensure the increased fees did not affect disadvantaged people.

She said disadvantaged people, including students, children under six, the poor and those on social-welfare receive State support in buying health insurance cards.

Deputy head of the ministry's Financial Planning Department, Nguyen Nam Lien, said the ministry also planned to mobilise different sources to support poor people and ethnic people who suffered from chronic diseases.

(Source:VNS)