Caring for the health of soldiers and civilians in the islands is not only a professional duty but also a responsibility and a matter of concern for the health sector towards the nation's frontline regions. Over the years, the Ministry of Health has consistently supported military medical forces in the Truong Sa Special Zone and the DK1 platform through various activities including professional assistance, equipment investment, remote consultations, and organizing medical missions to examine and treat soldiers and civilians on the islands. The recent visit by the Ministry of Health delegation further affirms the determination to build an increasingly strong healthcare system in the islands, helping people and soldiers better access modern medical services.

Professor and Doctor Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, shared that each trip to the islands in the Truong Sa Special Zone is not only an activity to visit and encourage, but also an opportunity for the health sector to listen to and assess the actual difficulties and needs of island-level healthcare in order to provide more practical support solutions in the future.

Meeting and sharing with officers, soldiers, and medical staff at the islands of the Truong Sa Special Zone, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan was moved to witness the increasingly modern appearance of the islands and the continuously improving living conditions for the military and civilians there. In particular, the professional capacity of the island-based medical staff has made remarkable progress. Many difficult and complex cases are now being treated and surgically treated right in the special zone with professional support from the mainland through a remote consultation system. This shows that the medical gap between the mainland and the frontline islands is gradually narrowing, helping the military and civilians on the remote islands to better access modern medical techniques and significantly reducing the risk of delays in emergency care due to geographical distance.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan presents gifts to the Truong Sa Island Clinic, Truong Sa Special Zone. Photo: LE MINH

Although healthcare in the Truong Sa Special Zone is currently primarily handled by military medical personnel, the Ministry of Health maintains close coordination with the Ministry of National Defence and military medical facilities in medical examinations, treatment, emergency care, and disease prevention and control. Many hospitals under the Ministry of Health have organized delegations to the Truong Sa Special Zone to provide medical examinations, dispense medicine, and conduct screenings for early detection of diseases among military personnel and civilians on the islands. This coordination not only contributes to improving the quality of healthcare but also motivates medical staff working in these remote islands. The Ministry of Health's support not only enhances the quality of healthcare in the islands but also lays the foundation for building a strong and modern healthcare system in this frontline area of ​​the Fatherland. “When we set foot on each island, we were deeply moved and proud. Especially when we heard about many difficult and complex cases that had been surgically treated directly on the islands with support from the mainland, we felt even more strongly the maturity of the island healthcare system,” Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan said.

According to Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan, their silent dedication is a crucial foundation for the sustainable development of the healthcare system in coastal and island areas. The Ministry of Health will always stand alongside healthcare in coastal and island areas. In the coming time, the health sector will continue to advise on perfecting specific mechanisms and policies for healthcare workers in island areas; increase investment in equipment, medicines, and professional support for clinics on the islands. “We hope that no doctor who dedicates themselves to the coastal and island areas will be disadvantaged in terms of working conditions or career development opportunities. The mainland will always be a strong support base for doctors in remote islands,” Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan emphasized.

Joining the delegation from the Ministry of Health, Associate Professor, Dr. Truong Tuyet Mai, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, emotionally shared: “Being a member of the delegation visiting the islands of the Truong Sa Special Zone is an honor and a source of pride; I am even more impressed by the dedication and sacrifice of the officers, soldiers, and people who are working day and night, sacrificing their youth to preserve and protect our homeland's seas and islands. From this trip, I appreciate even more the sacrifices of generations of officers and soldiers here who have steadfastly upheld our sacred sovereignty so that those of us in the rear can live in peace.”

The trip to the islands of the Truong Sa Special Zone not only brought the sentiments of the mainland but also instilled confidence in the "white-coated soldiers" who are tirelessly working on the islands, caring for the health of the military and civilians in this remote and challenging location. Despite the difficult living conditions due to their distance from the mainland, the dedication, responsibility, and unwavering will of the medical staff on these remote islands form the foundation for the continued strong development of island healthcare. This also demonstrates the enduring support of the Ministry of Health in bringing modern medical services closer to the military and civilians on these remote islands.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/y-te/cac-van-de/de-quan-dan-dao-xa-duoc-cham-care-suc-khoe-tot-hon-1040203