As many as 11 hospitals in HCMC are ready to provide medical services to foreign visitors to the city under a joint cooperation scheme signed between the city’s Departments of Health and Tourism last week.

A doctor offers medical examination service for a foreigner at the University Medical Center HCMC

The two departments signed a memorandum of understanding on launching medical tourism products, targeting international tourists to the city. The two sides in the rest of this year will publish a handbook on medical services for tourists with the involvement of 11 local hospitals.

These include both public and private hospitals, such as the Traditional Medicine Institute, National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology, Tu Du Hospital, University Medical Center HCMC and Hoan My Hospital.

In addition to security- and order-related activities, ensuring the health for tourists is an indispensable activity for those countries whose tourism sectors are developing, according to a source from the health department.

The source said the department has launched 25 emergency stations all over the city in order to provide first aid for local residents and tourists having health problems.

The health department has set out criteria for facilities, manpower, and medical examination and treatment procedures for public and private hospitals in a bid to satisfy the healthcare demand of tourists.

Doctor Nguyen Thi Thoa from the health department said the department will offer health examination and disease-screening services, especially those related to traditional medicine, cardiology, skin care, dental care, healthcare services for children and women, as well as ear, nose and throat treatments in the short run.

Other healthcare services which will be included later are also in line with the city’s goal of becoming an extensive healthcare center in Vietnam and the region.

SGT