These positive developments further affirm the humane policy of Ho Chi Minh City's leaders: Developing healthcare in Con Dao is not only for the well-being of the island's residents but also a strategic task for the expanded Ho Chi Minh City.
The Con Dao Special Economic Zone currently has approximately 14,000 permanent residents and receives over 400,000 tourists annually. However, healthcare services there still face many challenges. Previously, pregnant women in their seventh month of pregnancy were almost forced to leave the island and go to the mainland to await childbirth, which was both costly and risky. Many cases of tourists and fishermen experiencing medical emergencies required transportation by sea or air under difficult conditions. Now, however, many critical cases in the Con Dao Special Economic Zone have been successfully treated thanks to the rotational deployment of specialist doctors from major city hospitals to provide healthcare services.
Recent successful medical treatments have further helped bridge the gap between the mainland and the islands, but they cannot mask the reality that medical capacity in the Con Dao Special Zone still has many limitations. The medical infrastructure is not yet fully synchronized, equipment is lacking and not modern, and the local medical staff still need regular training and professional development. Without support from larger hospitals, many serious cases would still have to be transferred, facing high risks due to long distances and weather-dependent travel conditions.
At a recent meeting with the Con Dao Special Administrative Region, Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, affirmed that developing healthcare in Con Dao is not only for the well-being of the island's residents but also a strategic task for the expanded Ho Chi Minh City. This step demonstrates profound political and humanitarian responsibility and aligns with the city's development orientation after the merger.
A medical center on an island cannot simply offer routine medical care; it needs a modern operating room, a standard intensive care unit, and comprehensive diagnostic imaging and testing equipment to be ready to respond to severe cases. In addition, investment in human resources is crucial. Leading specialists are already rotating to work in the Con Dao Special Zone – a positive sign, but in the long term, strong policies are needed to attract and retain skilled medical personnel, while also providing opportunities for advanced training for the local team.
The healthcare capacity on the island will only be truly sustainable when the doctors and nurses there can confidently handle most emergency situations without relying entirely on higher-level facilities. In addition, establishing a stable policy with a roadmap and appropriate compensation for doctors on rotation is crucial. Working on the island should not only be a responsibility but also recognized as a special contribution, acknowledged and encouraged.
When the healthcare system in the special zone develops, taking care of the people's health, contributing to ensuring national security and defense, and serving as a foundation for sustainable tourism and service development, it will be a testament to the will, responsibility, and strategic vision of the Central Government and Ho Chi Minh City towards the sacred islands and seas of the Fatherland.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tin-vui-y-te-tu-dac-khu-con-dao-post812672.html
![[Photo] General Secretary To Lam presides over a meeting with the Editorial Teams to summarize 100 years of the Party's leadership of the Vietnamese revolution and 40 years of implementing the National Construction Program.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/03/04/1772601288977_a1-bnd-8134-7576-jpg.webp)
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