Thousands of patients from Ninh Binh and neighbouring provinces arrived at Bach Mai Hospital's Ninh Binh campus on Friday as the facility officially welcomed its first patients, reflecting strong public demand for high-quality healthcare closer to home.

Earlier that morning, many doctors travelled from Hanoi by train to begin work at the newly opened campus.

One of the first patients through the doors was 71-year-old Tran Van Yem from Hai Hung Commune in Ninh Binh Province.

Yem, who has terminal metastatic peritoneal mesothelioma, had been receiving treatment at Nam Dinh General Hospital before being referred to Bach Mai Hospital's Ninh Binh campus on its opening day.

Wanting to avoid long queues because of his condition, he left home at 3:30am and arrived at the hospital at 5:10am.

"I think this is one of the best medical facilities I've seen," he said. "The hospital is clean, modern and well equipped."

Although some minor issues arose during patient registration on the first day of operation, Yem said the dedication of doctors and medical staff gave him confidence.

"There were a few things that weren't completely smooth on the first morning, but the doctors and staff were all friendly and attentive," he said.

He believes the new campus will make it much easier for people across Ninh Binh and neighbouring provinces to access central-level healthcare without travelling to Bach Mai Hospital's main campus in Hanoi.

Pham Thi Hue, from Y Yen Commune in Ninh Binh Province, said her family left home at 4am so she could undergo a comprehensive health check, including blood tests, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal examinations, and X-rays.

She learned about the hospital's opening through television and decided to book an appointment on its first day.

Nguyen Quoc Thai, who heads the Quality Management Department at the Ninh Binh campus, said staff had spent recent days working intensively to complete preparations, including facilities, staffing, clinical procedures and quality management systems.

"The most important milestone was obtaining our licence to provide medical examination and treatment services," Thai said.

"This is what all our staff have been eagerly waiting for. Once we received the licence, all of our preparation could finally be translated into real services for patients."

He acknowledged that staff also felt considerable pressure because of the high expectations surrounding the new hospital.

"We expected large numbers of patients from the very first days," he said. "That expectation motivates everyone to prepare even more carefully and provide the best possible care."

Thai added that travelling between Hanoi and Ninh Binh is manageable thanks to multiple transport options, including trains, coaches, limousine services and hospital shuttle buses.

"The most important thing is ensuring our medical staff stay healthy during this initial operating period," he said.

According to Thai, many Bach Mai doctors originally come from Ninh Binh, Ha Nam and Nam Dinh provinces and are eager to work at the new campus, helping bring advanced medical services closer to people across the Red River Delta.

Associate Professor Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, said the hospital aims to transform the Ninh Binh campus into a modern national centre for specialised medicine by 2030.

The long-term plan also includes developing the campus into a respected medical education and research centre, a hub for healthcare innovation and digital transformation, and a smart, environmentally sustainable hospital.

Phuong Thuy - Trong Tung