Scaling up essential interventions for non-communicable diseases

At the conference to review and expand the WHO PEN Essential Intervention Program (non-communicable disease management intervention package), Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy Duong, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), said that the WHO PEN program was launched in Ho Chi Minh City in 2023 and initially recorded many positive results.

Specifically, from 43 initial health stations, the number of participating facilities has now increased to 193. This is an important step in expanding access to non-communicable disease management and treatment services right in the community.

Compared to the end of 2024, by August 2025, the number of patients coming for examination and taking medicine at health stations participating in the program increased significantly: patients with high blood pressure from 7,727 to 13,782 people, patients with diabetes from 2,636 to 4,362 people.

The rate of patients returning to the health station for a follow-up visit after 3 months has also improved significantly. Notably, more than 80% of patients maintained stable blood pressure targets and over 70% achieved target blood sugar levels. In the coming time, HCDC will expand the essential intervention program for hypertension and diabetes at the grassroots health level.

MINH NAM

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nhan-rong-chuong-trinh-can-thiep-thiet-yeu-benh-khong-lay-nhiem-post813850.html