4th Conference on Fetal Medicine:

On May 28th and 29th, the National Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital solemnly organized the 4th Annual Conference on Fetal Medicine. This is the largest and most prestigious scientific forum in the field, attracting more than 500 leading experts, scientists, and clinical doctors from both Vietnam and abroad.

Globally , fetal medicine has developed rapidly over the past three decades, becoming one of the fastest-advancing specialties in modern medicine. In Vietnam, we have gradually and successfully applied advanced fetal diagnostic and intervention techniques to treat fetuses while they are still in the womb.

Delegates attending the conference. Photo: TH

As a pioneer in laying the foundation for the field of fetal intervention in Vietnam, People's Physician, Professor, Doctor Nguyen Duy Anh, Director of the Central Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, stated that the strong development of fetal medicine stems from a major shift in the awareness of the entire obstetrics community: A fetus must be viewed as a human being, a real patient, to be cared for, treated, and saved.

Once considered a patient, the fetus needs to be examined, detected early, and treated promptly to address any pathologies or abnormalities while still in the womb. Based on this understanding, leading units in Vietnam have successfully accessed and mastered the most challenging interventional techniques, comparable to those used worldwide, such as surgery to treat diaphragmatic hernia or independent cardiac catheterization to prevent the risk of single-ventricle congenital heart disease.

Emphasizing the importance of prenatal intervention, People's Physician, Professor, Doctor Nguyen Duy Anh shared: "There are certain medical conditions that cannot be delayed. If we wait until after birth, the child will either die or suffer very serious consequences such as suffocation, brain damage, liver damage, or kidney damage. For example, in the case of congenital airway obstruction in fetuses, if we wait until the baby is born to scramble for tools to clear the airway, it will be too late. The doctor must take action, performing surgery using their senses to deploy techniques for the fetus while still in the womb, where the baby is still receiving safe oxygen through the placenta, in order to find a chance of survival for this special patient."

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan delivers a speech at the conference. Photo: TH

Attending and giving a keynote speech at the conference, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan affirmed that prenatal care and improving the quality of the population have always been central goals that the Party and State pay special attention to, as concretized in Resolution 72-NQ/TW of the Politburo . To complete the legal framework, the Ministry of Health is continuing to develop the Population Law and the Disease Prevention Law to strengthen human resources, popularize prenatal screening, and develop advanced techniques.

According to statistics, the maternal mortality rate in Vietnam has decreased dramatically by four times (from 165 cases per 100,000 live births in 2000 to just over 40 cases currently); the neonatal mortality rate has also decreased to only about 10 cases per 1,000 live births. This achievement has helped Vietnam be recognized by the international community as a bright spot in implementing the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This result is largely due to the crucial contribution of obstetrics, gynecology, and fetal medicine – the fastest-advancing specialty in modern medicine, with advances in morphological ultrasound, prenatal diagnosis, genetics, and uterine interventions.

Highly appreciating the intelligence and compassionate hearts of the medical team, Minister Dao Hong Lan shared: Fetal medicine is an extremely difficult and specialized field. In the new development strategy, the Ministry of Health identifies this as one of the key specialties that need to be prioritized, alongside precision medicine, genetic medicine, and high-tech medicine.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duy Anh, Director of the Central Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, presented a paper on the role of fetal medicine. Photo: TH

The head of the health sector also expects that the upcoming establishment of the Vietnam Fetal Medicine Association will promote scientific research, standardize clinical practice, and facilitate international integration. At the same time, the Minister noted that primary healthcare facilities need to seriously implement early screening to ensure timely referral to specialized centers, avoiding delays that could jeopardize the "golden hour" for fetal treatment.

Following the success of the previous three conferences, the Fourth Fetal Medicine Conference (2026) is a major forum for fetal medicine centers nationwide to report on their achievements and introduce their professional activities. Within the framework of the event, on May 28th, an in-depth practical workshop titled "Fetal Intervention: Beyond Limits" was held, directly updating the approach to managing complex and rare cases such as abdominal wall hernia, placental hemangioma, and congenital upper airway obstruction syndrome.
The plenary session, held on May 29th, brought together over 500 delegates from 100 hospitals, universities, and professional associations nationwide. With the participation of 16 leading national and international speakers, the conference presented numerous in-depth reports on twin pregnancies and their complications, congenital defects, fetal arrhythmias, laser techniques, and minimally invasive interventions.
A particular highlight of this year's conference is the increasingly prominent presence of Vietnamese speakers alongside renowned speakers from France, Belgium, Hong Kong, and China. This is clear evidence of the remarkable professional growth of Vietnam's medical staff on the international medical map.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/hoi-nghi-y-hoc-bao-thai-lan-thu-iv-khat-vong-vuot-gioi-han-de-cuu-chua-thai-nhi-tu-trong-bung-me-976129.html