Returning home for medical treatment: New trend of overseas Vietnamese

Vietnam's healthcare sector has made great strides in recent years, not only becoming the pride of the people in the country but also becoming a destination of hope for many international patients.

Mr. NVC, 63 years old, had high blood pressure, dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease, had had an interventricular artery stent placed 8 years ago but did not return for follow-up. Recently, he returned from France to visit his family, he suddenly had severe chest pain accompanied by dry cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and was immediately rushed to a general hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for emergency care.

Mr. C. shared that in foreign countries, to see a family doctor, one has to wait a month, and sometimes even have to ask for an interpreter due to the language barrier. In Vietnam, I can see a specialist right away, with modern equipment, and receive very clear and easy-to-understand advice.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Nguyen Vinh, Director of the Cardiovascular Center, on average, each year, there are about 300,000 foreign visitors and overseas Vietnamese coming to Vietnam for outpatient examination and 57,000 people receiving inpatient treatment, most of whom are concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City.

Associate Professor Vinh said that abroad, screening or treatment of chronic diseases often requires a long wait, sometimes up to 1-2 months. Therefore, when returning home, they not only get examined by experts but also have the procedure performed quickly and at a reasonable cost.

Not to mention, the cost of treatment in Vietnam is also a big advantage compared to many countries such as Singapore, Thailand or European countries. For example, the cost of heart bypass surgery in Vietnam is only about 10,000-15,000 USD, while in Thailand it is 25,000-30,000 USD. Infertility treatment in developed countries can cost up to 25,000-50,000 USD, while in Vietnam it is only 1/5-1/10.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health , each year there are about 300,000 international patients coming to Vietnam for medical treatment, this trend is increasing thanks to the quality of service and reasonable costs.

Ms. NTNA, a Vietnamese New Zealander, after many failed surgeries abroad, chose to return to Vietnam for successful treatment at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital. Her story is a testament to the ability of Vietnamese medicine to treat complex diseases.

In addition, modern cosmetic services also attract a large number of international visitors, in which the cost in Vietnam is much cheaper than in the US, Canada or Europe while the quality is still guaranteed.

In the field of assisted reproduction, many couples from Japan, Korea, and the US choose Vietnam to perform in vitro fertilization (IVF) with high success rates and reasonable costs. Many leading hospitals such as the 108 Military Central Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, and Viet Duc Friendship Hospital have also recorded a rapid increase in the number of foreign patients in recent years, especially in cases of relapse or ineffective treatment abroad.

Dr. Duong Huy Luong, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health), assessed that the Vietnamese health sector has made many improvements in service quality, moving towards patient-centeredness, while encouraging hospitals to develop into specialized medical centers that meet regional and international standards.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/ve-nuoc-chua-benh-xu-the-moi-cua-viet-kieu-d359776.html