The aspiration for a healthy city!

During a meeting with healthcare professionals ahead of the new year, Associate Professor, Doctor Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, reminded his colleagues: after the merger, we not only changed the geographical boundaries, but the way we provide services must also change. "People everywhere must receive equal, prompt, and high-quality healthcare," he emphasized.

That aspiration is also the shared desire of over 14 million people: to live in a healthy city – healthy in terms of the healthcare system, healthy in the community, and healthy in every family.

1. By the end of 2025, Tu Du Hospital's second facility will officially begin operations in Can Gio commune, establishing the city's first integrated multi-specialty hospital model and marking a new step in the development of the healthcare network in Ho Chi Minh City. The presence of this modern medical facility will act as a catalyst to narrow the healthcare gap in this disadvantaged area.

During the welcoming ceremony for the medical team, Mr. Tran Van Hoa (68 years old, from Binh Khanh commune) emotionally expressed that from now on, the people here will no longer have to travel dozens of kilometers to the city center for medical examinations, reducing many worries about costs, time, and risks. "The doctors from the city have come to the people of Can Gio," he said, his eyes shining with joy.

Previously, on November 7, 2025, immediately after the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee issued the official decision to launch Tu Du Hospital's second facility as a multi-specialty hospital, nine hospitals – including Tu Du, Le Van Thinh, City Children's Hospital, Eye Hospital, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital, Dermatology Hospital, Rehabilitation and Occupational Disease Hospital, and the Traditional Medicine Hospital – simultaneously arrived in Can Gio commune to install equipment and complete the infrastructure. Just three weeks after opening, the number of outpatient visits increased two to three times compared to before, the number of emergency referrals decreased significantly, and many surgeries were performed on-site.

From now on, Can Gio commune is no longer a healthcare-deficient area; residents can now access specialized services right within the commune. This pioneering new model optimizes the city's professional resources while meeting social welfare requirements as Can Gio strives to become an international coastal city.

2. After months of intense efforts to combat the pandemic, people have gained a deeper understanding of the value of preventive healthcare. In a large city with bustling trade and a dense population, epidemics are not simply a matter of "seasonal diseases," but are also influenced by population movements, climate change, environmental pollution, lifestyle habits, and more.

Dr. Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, emphasized: "Investing in prevention is a long-term investment because it reduces severe cases, reduces mortality, and reduces social costs." According to him, the city is promoting programs to screen for non-communicable diseases; providing nutrition, exercise, and sleep counseling; community-based mental health care; and elderly care focused on "healthy aging."

People in Ho Chi Minh City exercise to improve their health. (Photo: HOANG HUNG)

Ho Chi Minh City is currently facing the "silent epidemics" of modern times: hypertension, diabetes, metabolic disorders, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc. At the same time, stress, anxiety, and depression are appearing in many age groups, creating new pressure on the urban healthcare system. Therefore, strengthening preventive healthcare has become a strategic priority, helping the city proactively respond to all situations and ensuring that citizens receive regular and comprehensive healthcare.

3. The direction that Ho Chi Minh City's health sector is pursuing is proactive healthcare, starting with small but persistent actions such as reminding people to measure their blood pressure regularly, screen for diabetes, get vaccinated on schedule, and have regular dental and eye checkups for children… to managing chronic diseases, rehabilitation after treatment, and mental health care.

Currently, the city boasts the largest primary healthcare network in the country, with 38 regional health centers, 168 health stations, and 296 health points. This is a strategic system for primary healthcare, chronic disease management, epidemic prevention, and public health improvement. To address long-standing bottlenecks in human resources and mechanisms, Ho Chi Minh City has issued a series of specific policies under Resolution 01/2022/NQ-HĐND and Resolution 22/2022/NQ-HĐND to attract young doctors and experts, increase allowances, and improve the working environment.

As a result, by the end of 2025, the city's grassroots healthcare system had undergone significant changes, with 617 doctors working at health stations and 153 retired doctors being recruited back to work. The city also expanded its network by adding 94 stations operating on the principles of family medicine and 213 health insurance examination stations. In addition, the program of rotating young doctors to work in Thanh An island commune was effectively implemented.

The significant changes in the healthcare sector in recent years have proven that the city is on the right track to building a modern, people-friendly, and equitable healthcare system. These positive developments have laid an important foundation for the journey of building a "healthy city" - a city whose development is measured not only by its growth rate, but also by the number of years its residents live healthily.

Associate Professor, Doctor Tang Chi Thuong

Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health

Dr. Luan Thanh Truong, Head of the Thạnh An Commune Health Station, said that the deployment of young doctors to the commune has brought about many changes in healthcare for the people, especially in Thiềng Liềng hamlet. Every week, doctors from distant areas come to the hamlet to provide medical examinations and treatment for the residents – something that was not possible before. These changes have created great peace of mind for the community in this coastal area.

THANH AN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/khat-vong-thanh-pho-khoe-post839548.html