VietNamNet Bridge – By 2020, Hanoi aims to have a high-quality, international standard, medical complex at each of its five gateways, according to a master plan to develop the local medical system.

The plan, and its vision for 2030, was approved by the city's authorities, with an estimated budget of nearly VND41.38 trillion.

It plans to develop both a general and specialized municipal medical system, reduce the rate of diseases and fatalities, improve people’s health and longevity, and raise the quality of life to create high quality human resources for its future development process.

Under the plan, Hanoi will strive to have 20 sick beds per 10,000 citizens by 2015, 25 by 2020 and 30 by 2030, in order to meet local people's increasing demands for treatment and contribute to making the capital a high-quality medical service hub for the nation as well as Southeast Asia.

From now until 2015, the city will allocate land to build a number of 1000-bed hospitals to reduce the overload in existing medical establishments.

It plans to build a hospital in the northern part of the city to deal with general medicine, cancer, cardiac (heart) and paediatric diseases, as well as a hospital in the west for general medicine, cardiac and eye diseases. Another hospital is planned for the eastern area to handle general cases and respiratory diseases, while in the southern part of the city there will be a hospital for infectious diseases, obstetrics and eye, nose and throat ailments.

Hanoi now has 32 medical establishments run by the Ministry of Health as well as nine hospitals run by other ministries, and 40 general and specialist hospitals of its own.

It also boasts 29 district health centres and 43 clinics along with 23 private hospitals.

However, taking all this into account, Hanoi still has only 15 beds per 10,000 citizens, which indicates that its medical staff and facilities do not meet the local demand for initial diagnosis and treatment, especially in the suburbs.

* Australian NGO funds eye care services

Australia’s Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) and Thai Binh province’s Health Department on February 23 signed an agreement for a VND19 billion project to develop a model of comprehensive eye care in the Red River delta province between 2012 and 2015.

The FHF is a non-governmental organization established in 1992 to help developing countries worldwide build and implement blind prevention programmes as well as helps visually impaired people. 

In 2009, the FHF started a VND7.5 billion project in Thai Binh to upgrade the province’s optical services, provide medical equipment and hold training courses to improve the capacity of its medical staff. 

In 2012, Thai Binh is one of 11 provinces which will continue to receive the FHF’s support. The project will focus on eye care in the six districts of Quynh Phu, Kien Xuong, Tien Hai, Hung Ha, Dong Hung and Thai Thuy. 

The foundation has pledged to provide US$3.3 million for Vietnam’s 2012 blind prevention program.     

VNN/VOV/VNA