Launching the 1st Smoke-Free Medical Facility Competition

Tobacco is one of the leading causes of illness and death related to diseases such as lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, as well as many other serious illnesses.

On the morning of September 17, the launching ceremony of the first "Smoke-free medical facility" contest, organized by the Health and Life Newspaper in collaboration with the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, was held.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan, this is not only a contest but also a strong statement of the health sector about its determination to create a green, clean, and humane medical examination and treatment environment, putting the safety and health of patients first.

Tobacco is one of the leading causes of disease and death related to diseases such as lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, as well as many other serious diseases. According to estimates by the World Health Organization, each year tobacco takes about 8 million lives globally, equivalent to nearly 22,000 people per day. In Vietnam, the burden is estimated at about 84,500 deaths per year, or more than 230 cases per day, and along with that, tens of thousands of people suffer serious consequences from passive smoking.

"I request that heads of hospitals, medical centers, clinics, and medical examination and treatment facilities grasp and take direct responsibility for the results of building a smoke-free environment, considering this a core indicator in hospital management, linked to emulation evaluation and rewards for medical staff," Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan emphasized.

Scene of the launching ceremony. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Dr. Ha Anh Duc - Vice Chairman of the National Medical Council, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health) said that in recent years, medical facilities have promoted the movement to build smoke-free medical facilities nationwide. More and more hospitals, medical centers, and commune health stations strictly implement the no-smoking regulations on the premises, post no-smoking signs, and organize propaganda for patients, relatives and medical staff.

According to the report results after 10 years of implementing the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, the rate of exposure to secondhand smoke has decreased significantly in most public places, of which in medical facilities it has decreased from 23.6% (in 2010) to 21.3% (in 2023). The rate of people coming to medical facilities and receiving advice from medical staff to quit smoking has increased from 40.5% in 2015 to 90% in 2023.

The contest is being implemented nationwide with participants being public general and specialized hospitals at provincial, city, central levels and university-affiliated hospitals. From there, it will discover, honor and replicate typical models, smoke-free friendly hospitals, safe green campuses, and stories of change from patients and medical staff./.

Competition period: From September 2025 to December 2025.

Contestants: Public general and specialized hospitals at provincial and municipal levels; central level hospitals under the Ministry of Health and other ministries and branches; hospitals affiliated to universities.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phat-dong-cuoc-thi-co-so-y-te-khong-khoi-thuoc-la-lan-thu-i-post1062332.vnp