Our mission is to bring high-quality healthcare closer to people's lives.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Despite aiming for high-quality healthcare development through significant investment, hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City are still finding ways to make their services accessible to people of varying economic backgrounds.

In the context of increasing demand for quality healthcare, people are not only concerned about treatment effectiveness but also prioritize a comprehensive healthcare experience.

Since the end of 2018, with the vision of becoming a reputable, high-quality medical facility, ranking among the top private hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City and the Southern region, Nam Saigon International General Hospital has gradually fulfilled its mission of providing good and affordable medical examination, treatment, and healthcare services for all individuals, including those with average and low incomes.

Dan Tri Newspaper had a conversation with Dr. Nguyen Truong Khuong, Director of Professional Services at Nam Saigon International General Hospital, to learn about the special stories behind a private hospital model operating with the motto: "All for the patient!".

Recently, Nam Saigon International General Hospital has received high praise for its treatment effectiveness and service quality. In your opinion, what are the factors that have helped the hospital build such trust?

- I am truly delighted to hear this, as it can be considered a recognition from the community for our South Saigon International General Hospital.

Achieving this requires many factors. First, there must be consistent and unwavering guidance from the Board of Directors, focusing on building a reputable, high-quality hospital that ranks among the top private hospitals in the Southern region.

The South Saigon Hospital must be a place with a professional working environment, where employees are treated fairly; ensuring high-quality spiritual and material conditions so that staff can wholeheartedly unite and dedicate themselves, and to attract many talented and dedicated doctors.

So, this core value was established right from the start, when the hospital first opened, right, doctor?

- That's right. This was determined by the Board of Directors from the very beginning and was very clearly defined. We even jokingly asked ourselves, "Once the hospital becomes profitable, will the path be different?"

In response, the Board of Directors affirmed that South Saigon Hospital does not prioritize revenue targets but focuses on developing a reputable medical facility. Even after achieving revenue and financial success, we will continue to pursue the path of building a reputable hospital with high professional standards.

One of the hospital's strengths is its modern, minimally invasive treatment techniques and rapid recovery time. Could you share more about the outstanding methods the hospital is currently implementing and their practical effectiveness?

- Endoscopic, minimally invasive surgery using advanced techniques has been a global trend in medicine in recent decades. At Nam Saigon International General Hospital, the General Surgery Department has successfully performed complex surgeries, such as pancreaticoduodenectomy or thyroidectomy using endoscopy, helping to maintain aesthetics and avoid scarring.

Meanwhile, our thoracic surgeons have been able to perform lung resections and mediastinal tumor removals using endoscopy. Similarly, in urology surgery, South Saigon has the technique of removing kidney stones using flexible endoscopes.

In the past, for neurosurgery, spinal surgery often resulted in very long incisions and prolonged pain for patients. However, today, we have minimally invasive and precise surgical techniques with very small incisions, minimal bleeding, and fewer complications during the operation.

Similarly, in the Orthopedics Department, we offer arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgeries, as well as minimally invasive bone fixation surgeries to reduce damage to healthy organs. As a result, patients have shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times.

Looking at advanced healthcare systems in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand or Singapore, how would you assess the level of endoscopic treatment techniques currently performed at Nam Saigon Hospital?

- To put it briefly, I can confidently say that South Saigon Hospital has implemented 90% of the modern endoscopic techniques that major hospitals in the country and the region have adopted. Almost whatever technique is available elsewhere, we have it.

That's an impressive 90% figure. Doctor, could you share some of the special cases that your unit has successfully treated?

- At our hospital, we have complex cases every day and every week, requiring the skill, knowledge, and dedication of our entire team.

I still remember a surgery I performed about a year ago, when a foreign female patient came in complaining of throat discomfort and occasionally coughing up blood.

During the endoscopy, I found a very large tumor in the patient's larynx. It was a hemangioma, and it completely covered the larynx, making the vocal cords invisible. At that time, our hospital had never encountered a case like this.

Faced with that situation, the hospital had to mobilize collective intelligence. We held a hospital-wide consultation to develop solutions, contingency plans, and strategies to ensure the patient's surgery was performed safely.

The difficulty with this case is that the patient had just undergone a heart valve replacement and was taking anticoagulants. For a healthy person, the risk of bleeding during surgery to remove a hemangioma is already very high, and now the risk is even higher with the use of anticoagulants.

We had to postpone discontinuing the anticoagulant medication for 5 days. At the same time, with such a rare case – not only for our hospital but for the world – ensuring a safe surgery was a major challenge. We consulted with leading experts over the phone, exchanged images through various means, and agreed on a solution.

Before the surgery, we also held a meeting to assign tasks to each member of the team and anticipate difficult situations such as blood transfusions and cardiovascular resuscitation, ensuring the surgery was safe. With such thorough preparation, the surgery was successful after two tense hours. The female patient has returned to being a healthy person.

Congratulations to you, the hospital, and the patient. But based on this case, I have a question: when undergoing treatment using complex techniques and mobilizing a large number of personnel, does the cost of treatment that patients have to pay at South Saigon Hospital increase significantly?

- From the beginning, our hospital has had a policy of serving everyone, catering to different income segments. We apply universal health insurance policies as well as insurance from private companies, helping to reduce treatment costs for patients.

And when designing the pricing for a particular service, we also keep in mind how to meet the customer's budget while maintaining a financial balance for reinvestment in the hospital.

For example, a patient whose medical expenses are 80% covered by health insurance will only have to pay the additional cost of the carefully calculated services provided by the hospital. This is especially beneficial for patients requiring surgery such as knee or shoulder replacement. Instead of paying high prices for equipment, they are covered 80% by health insurance, making the remaining cost more manageable. Therefore, many people with varying economic circumstances can still receive treatment at our hospital.

I often hear a common misconception that private hospitals tend to focus solely on investing in a wide range of medical services, often at high costs. With the healthcare strategy you just outlined – providing high-quality healthcare at a cost affordable to the majority of patients – could this create an internal conflict regarding profitability?

- Deciding on that development strategy was very difficult for us. Balancing objectives—making a profit to continue operations and reinvest—while also meeting the needs and affordability of patients was no simple matter.

For example, when purchasing a piece of machinery, instead of a maximum payback period of 5 years, we design a reasonable price that is affordable for the people, so that the payback period can be acceptable within 7-8 years. We have to discuss and deliberate very carefully at every stage of the investment.

Besides investing in modern equipment, the "human" factor is always at the core of the medical industry. Could you share more about the team of doctors and nurses and how the hospital builds a professional, cohesive, and dedicated working environment for patients?

- That's a very good question. Given the unique nature of the medical field, highly skilled human resources are extremely important, yet very scarce. From the beginning, we have advocated that hospital management is truly the management of healthcare human resources.

The hospital has identified two key pillars in human resource development: training and compensation.

Regarding compensation, we must ensure that healthcare workers receive fair and adequate market-based income and appropriate social welfare benefits, so that they feel comfortable and confident. Only then will they work wholeheartedly and dedicate themselves to the hospital, pursuing our stated goal: "All for the patient."

Regarding training, we prioritize internal training. Every month and every year, staff members graduate and upgrade their skills, progressing from nursing college diplomas to bachelor's or master's degrees in nursing; we also focus on training specialist doctors (levels 1-2).

Currently, we have two staff members pursuing doctoral studies using data from hospital treatment and operations. This is something to be very proud of for a private hospital. We also continuously update training for all staff, most recently a training course on using AI for all administrative office staff, to make professional work faster, more efficient, and better.

As you mentioned, there is a shortage of healthcare personnel – especially high-quality personnel – which leads to competition among hospitals to attract talent. How does South Saigon Hospital attract and retain skilled doctors and medical staff? Can you give an example from your own experience?

- Personally, I learned about Nam Saigon International General Hospital through friends and relatives, and we also had exchanges and shared information. The hospital's Board of Directors affirmed that they would create conditions for me to continue performing my professional duties even while in a management role.

Here, all my constructive contributions and suggestions for development are respected. And as I shared above, I chose a place with a professional working environment, where employees are treated fairly and are guaranteed high-quality mental and material conditions to dedicate myself wholeheartedly to my work.

He just shared some very insightful information about training and compensation. This is a somewhat sensitive question, but one that readers will be very curious about. That is: How competitive is the compensation package at South Saigon Hospital compared to other hospitals?

Our hospital has two main compensation policies. Firstly, compensation in terms of salary and benefits; secondly, providing opportunities for training for medical staff.

Specifically, if someone plans to pursue further education, the hospital almost always covers all tuition fees and provides support throughout their studies. We also send doctors abroad for further education at the hospital's expense. As for salaries, we have a performance-based salary system that is competitive with market rates.

Surely, the focus on human resource development and training has significantly improved the quality of treatment at the hospital over time, hasn't it, sir?

- The quality of our medical examination and treatment has improved significantly. Regarding the benefits of training, for example, in the Ear, Nose, and Throat department, many doctors previously couldn't perform ear surgery, but after being given the opportunity to study abroad, they are now able to do so. Similarly, for head or neck cancer surgery, we sent doctors to Cho Ray Hospital for training to master these techniques.

We also combine this with internal training, such as department leaders or those who have undergone advanced training in snoring and sleep apnea surgery sharing their knowledge with their colleagues. This ensures that over time, others achieve equivalent skill levels, thereby providing the best possible service to patients. In other words, skilled doctors mentor new, younger doctors, and we have a roadmap and a plan in place.

In the coming period, what specialized areas will Nam Saigon International General Hospital focus on to solidify its position in the Southern healthcare system? If you were to choose one to three areas that you are most passionate about, what would they be, sir?

- Currently, we remain strongest in surgical departments, especially neurosurgery and spinal surgery. As we've shared, we are able to apply most endoscopic and minimally invasive techniques, supported by very modern equipment, helping surgeries achieve very high accuracy and an extremely low complication rate.

We have presented summaries and reports on our treatment successes at professional conferences, including regional and international conferences.

In particular, our hospital is one of the few facilities nationwide that provides the most comprehensive and complete treatment for snoring and sleep apnea. We also collaborate with top-tier specialized dental and maxillofacial hospitals, allowing our doctors and specialists to perform surgeries for cranial and facial abnormalities.

Regarding development direction, we will consolidate and further enhance the strengths of the General Surgery, Neurosurgery - Spine, Orthopedics, Thoracic Surgery, Urology, and especially the indispensable Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) department.

At the same time, we are also developing the Internal Medicine and Intensive Care departments to become a comprehensive general hospital, capable of meeting the healthcare needs of the community in the southern region.

The final question in this program is, what message would the doctor like to convey from South Saigon Hospital?

- We have only one message: come and experience the "all for the patient" motto of South Saigon Hospital!

Thank you very much, sir!

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/su-menh-dua-y-te-chat-luong-cao-den-gan-hon-voi-cuoc-song-nguoi-dan-20251129124219342.htm