Ho Chi Minh City is considering building a general hospital in the Con Dao Special Economic Zone.

On the afternoon of July 3, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health held a meeting with leading experts on capacity building for the Con Dao Special Zone Medical Center. This is a medical center that not only serves the people living on the island but also receives tens of thousands of tourists and employees every year.

According to Associate Professor, Doctor Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health , the Con Dao Special Zone Medical Center has been newly built and equipped with fairly modern facilities in recent times.

"However, the biggest challenge remains the shortage of qualified medical personnel... a problem that has yet to be solved. Emergency care, childbirth, dialysis, maritime accidents... are long-standing concerns for the local people, tourists , and investors," the Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health acknowledged.

During the first few days of the new Board of Directors of the Department of Health, the topic of improving the capacity of Con Dao's healthcare system was given attention by the department's leaders and discussed with leading experts.

The scene at the meeting.

At the meeting, the city's health sector identified solutions to improve Con Dao's healthcare capacity in two phases:

Phase 1: Implementation in Q3 2025. Accordingly, skilled doctors will be rotated to the island according to their specialties, including obstetrics, surgery, internal medicine, and pediatrics; remote consultations will be organized, and online continuing medical education (CME) will be provided for medical staff of the Con Dao Military-Civilian Medical Center.

This phase prioritizes the development of safe and on-site obstetrics with full obstetric, anesthesia, and neonatal resuscitation teams – reducing reliance on costly and risky transfers by train or helicopter.

Furthermore, strengthening the capacity for trauma, internal medicine, and pediatrics emergency care is crucial to meet the common medical needs in Con Dao, such as maritime accidents, tourist accidents, and emergency care for children and the elderly. In addition, establishing a local blood bank to ensure safe emergency care in obstetrics, surgery, and critical situations is also a priority.

In phase 2, the health sector developed a plan with specific policies for Con Dao's healthcare: aiming to establish a multi-specialty hospital of appropriate scale; strengthening linkages and professional support with major hospitals such as Hung Vuong, Children's Hospital 1, Binh Dan, and Gia Dinh People's Hospital…

Specifically, the Department of Health, in coordination with medical universities in Ho Chi Minh City, is developing a residency training program with rotational practical training at the Con Dao Medical Center/Hospital. This provides an opportunity for resident doctors to gain experience in a unique environment; and is proposing policies to retain and attract medical personnel to work in Con Dao.

"The Department of Health plans to conduct a field survey in Con Dao with the participation of leading experts, in order to assess the current situation and develop a suitable, feasible, and sustainable implementation plan," Associate Professor, Doctor Tang Chi Thuong informed.

Associate Professor, Doctor Tang Chi Thuong also stated that the first rotation of specialist doctors from the city will soon be organized to work at the Con Dao Military-Civilian Medical Center. This is not only a professional action but also a strong message: after the merger, the city's healthcare system will not only expand geographically but also in terms of service spirit, bringing quality treatment to even the most remote island.

THANH SON

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tphcm-tinh-chuyen-xay-benh-vien-da-khoa-tai-dac-khu-con-dao-post802354.html