Over 9,000 medical workers quit as low pay, high workload take toll

At an online government conference Monday, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said over 5,200 quit last year and 4,000 already this year.

Unsatisfactory salaries and benefits that could not match requirements and the increased workload during the Covid-19 pandemic have been cited as the main reasons, he said.

Some also quit due to health and psychological issues, he said, pointing out that the private sector is able to attract and retain talent due to higher salaries.

Tuyen said his ministry has proposed an increase in benefits for health workers and the number of medical centers based on population, among other measures.

Medical workers have been quitting in droves in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In the first quarter of this year alone, around 400 quit in HCMC, equivalent to the full-year average in the pre-Covid era.

In Hanoi around 900 quit in the last 18 months.

The exodus is causing a shortage of personnel, affecting medical treatment, especially with the Covid situation remaining serious.

In April HCMC passed a resolution to earmark over VND138 billion ($5.9 million) a year until 2025 to hire personnel for 310 medical stations.

The Hanoi Department of Health has also urged the city People’s Committee to adopt support policies.