This information was shared on the sidelines of a referral network coordination conference for the northern obstetrics sector held on January 26.

Anh noted that following the Politburo’s Resolution 72, the hospital has accelerated training, technology transfer, and remote consultations to improve patient care quality. With the motto "not doing it for them, but helping colleagues master it," training courses are designed to fit the actual conditions of each level.

To date, over 1,700 medical staff from 18 out of 19 satellite hospitals of the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology have received continuous training. Among them, over 600 staff members received intensive training, mastering 17 obstetric and gynecological techniques. Notably, 87-100 percent of trainees self-assessed as confident or very confident in applying knowledge to practice.

At lower-level hospitals, many techniques have been performed for the first time and become routine, ranging from labor pain relief, cervical examination and cauterization, and 4D ultrasound to laparoscopic surgery for infertility treatment. As a result, grassroots-level capacity has improved significantly, referral rates have declined, and thousands of cases have been treated promptly at local facilities.

Alongside technology transfer, Telehealth has become a “lifeline” in many critical obstetric cases, enabling real-time coordination in emergency treatment.

Many particularly severe obstetric cases, such as AFE and HELLP syndrome, which traditionally carry very poor prognoses, have been successfully managed thanks to real-time professional coordination from the central level down to district-level operating rooms.

Anh stated that in 2025, the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology chaired 24 consultation sessions, connecting more than 200 points across 96 units in 32 provinces and cities. This timely support for diagnosis and treatment of complex cases has enhanced the professional capacity of grassroots health care, reduced unnecessary referrals, and strengthened professional coordination throughout the network.

Associate Professor Vu Van Du, Deputy Director of the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, added that for a technique to survive and be effective locally, a standard medical management environment is required. Therefore, the hospital pioneered the "Comprehensive Guidance" model, successfully implemented at Nam Dinh Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Hoa Binh General Hospital, and others.

The comprehensive guidance model is built on a “three-pillar” structure: advanced professional technology transfer; support for system governance; and legal standardization of medical records.

Under this model, the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology not only helps lower-level doctors improve their clinical expertise, but also strengthens their management skills, reduces legal risks, and supports more scientific departmental operations.

Notably, for the first time, the hospital has implemented guidance in a new way by dispatching working delegations, from hospital directors to specialist doctors, to regularly visit Hoa Binh General Hospital to directly provide medical examinations and treatment.

“This activity allows local residents to access top-tier doctors, while also offering hands-on training for local medical staff through examinations, ward rounds, and professional briefings,” Du said.

The effectiveness of four shared medical platforms, including Electronic Medical Records (EMR), National Pharmacy Database, Hospital Information System (HIS), and the Telemedicine Platform, has been clearly proven at many major hospitals.

Telehealth is the clearest evidence of the ability to bring treatment quality from the central level to provincial and district levels. When Telehealth is integrated with EMR and HIS, upper-level doctors can evaluate patient records even from hundreds of kilometers away.

At the 108 Military Central Hospital, more than 1,000 online consultation sessions had been conducted by late 2025 to support lower-level hospitals in handling severe cases during the golden hour. Many complex trauma cases in Cao Bang, Quang Ninh, and Nghe An had been treated in time thanks to provincial doctors being able to immediately consult specialists in Hanoi. Telehealth not only reduces referrals but also enhances the professional capacity of local doctors.

Bach Mai Hospital leads in the use of Telehealth for stroke treatment. When patients are admitted to lower-level hospitals, CT scan images are uploaded to the system for evaluation by Bach Mai doctors. Within minutes, doctors can determine the treatment window and provide timely indications for thrombolytic therapy. This has helped save many patients and significantly reduced complication rates.

Vo Thu