Nghe An health authorities are working alongside and supporting Xieng Khouang health authorities.

PV: In early June 2022, the Nghe An Health Department visited and worked with the Xieng Khouang Health Department. Could you please tell us the purpose and significance of this trip?

Associate Professor Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh spoke at the meeting to share experiences in cooperation between the health sector of Nghe An province and the health sector of Xieng Khouang province.

Associate Professor Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: Towards the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962) and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (July 18, 1977 - July 18, 2022), and in implementation of the health cooperation program between Nghe An and Xieng Khouang provinces, from May 31 to June 4, the Nghe An Health Department organized a working delegation to visit and work with the Health Department of Xieng Khouang province, Lao People's Democratic Republic. The delegation included representatives from the Department of Health, Nghe An Friendship General Hospital, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, Nghe An Trauma and Orthopedics Hospital, Nghe An Center for Disease Control, Ky Son District Health Center, Vinh Medical University, etc. During this working trip, the health sectors of the two provinces held discussions to evaluate the results of health cooperation from 2015 to the present and discuss directions for future cooperation. The Nghe An health sector also visited and worked with Xieng Khouang General Hospital, Xieng Khouang Medical College; and district and commune-level health facilities in Xieng Khouang province. Evaluating the effectiveness of the cooperation, both the health sectors of Nghe An and Xieng Khouang provinces acknowledged that the cooperation has achieved many noteworthy results. Notably, the Nghe An health sector has assisted Xieng Khouang province in medical examination and treatment, technology transfer, and medical personnel training. Specifically, hospitals in Nghe An province have received medical staff from Xieng Khouang General Hospital to study techniques in various specialties; at the same time, experts have been sent to provide hands-on training to the staff of Xieng Khouang General Hospital. After the training, the medical staff of Xieng Khouang have mastered many advanced techniques that they could not perform before; their professional skills have improved, and many critically ill patients have been saved thanks to the application of new knowledge.

The new Xieng Khouang General Hospital has been largely completed and is expected to be put into operation by the end of 2022.

The Nghe An Health Department has created the best possible conditions for medical examination and treatment for the people of Laos. Vinh Medical University has supported and trained many Lao students sent by Xieng Khouang province. Joining hands in disease prevention and control, Nghe An and Xieng Khouang provinces have jointly implemented many cooperative activities to control infectious diseases and prevent outbreaks along the border in diverse and effective ways. Besides the achievements, there are still some shortcomings and difficulties, namely: the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly affected coordination; the transfer of specialized techniques in traditional medicine has not been implemented; and Xieng Khouang's health sector still faces many difficulties in terms of infrastructure and equipment… Reporter: Sir, recently, the Vietnamese Government, through Nghe An province, has implemented a program to fund the construction of a modern general hospital for Xieng Khouang province. Could you tell us more about this new hospital?

The delegation from the Nghe An health sector visited and worked with Xieng Khouang General Hospital.

According to the 2015 Bilateral Cooperation Agreement, the Xieng Khouang Provincial General Hospital Construction Project is included in the list of projects using non-refundable aid from the Vietnamese Government to the Lao Government. This project was assigned by the Vietnamese Government to the People's Committee of Nghe An Province for implementation. Accordingly, Nghe An Province assigned the Nghe An Civil Construction and Urban Infrastructure Project Management Board as the investor for the hospital construction. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Xieng Khouang Provincial General Hospital took place on January 2, 2016; it has a capacity of 200 beds and a total investment of nearly 500 billion VND… To date, after 6 years, the new Xieng Khouang Provincial General Hospital is almost complete. According to the report of the Hospital's Board of Directors, only a few pieces of equipment remain to be delivered. The new hospital is expected to be operational by the end of this year. During this working visit, Xieng Khouang Provincial General Hospital requested assistance from the Nghe An Department of Health in effectively operating the new hospital facility. The Nghe An Department of Health delegation visited and conducted a detailed survey of the new hospital's infrastructure, equipment, and departmental layout. Accordingly, the new Xieng Khouang Provincial General Hospital boasts excellent infrastructure, now 100% complete; modern equipment, operating rooms, and laboratories meeting international standards; and is suitable for a province with nearly 300,000 inhabitants like Xieng Khouang.

The delegation visited and worked with Xieng Khouang Medical College.

In addition, the delegation also noted several shortcomings that would arise when operating the new Xieng Khouang Provincial General Hospital, namely: Many of your medical staff have never had access to modern medical equipment; they lack experience in infection control; new specialties need further development in expertise and techniques (although a training program for personnel for the new hospital, funded by the Vietnamese Government, was implemented in 2019); and hospital management and quality management also need attention, as the hospital's management and operation have traditionally relied on manual paperwork and have not yet applied information technology to management. Following the survey, the Nghe An Department of Health agreed to assist Xieng Khouang Provincial General Hospital in the management and operation of the new hospital; training in equipment operation; and continued training according to your requirements in developing specialized technical skills suitable to the disease patterns of Laos. PV: During this working visit, what cooperation agreements were signed between the health sectors of Nghe An and Xieng Khouang provinces? Could you elaborate on how Nghe An will assist and support Xieng Khouang in the future? Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: Continuing to strengthen cooperation, the health sectors of the two provinces have agreed on many important contents. Accordingly, in the coming time, the Nghe An health sector will continue to work with the Xieng Khouang health sector to proactively prevent and control epidemics and conduct medical quarantine. The Nghe An health sector will provide active, unconditional, and thorough support in transferring medical examination and treatment techniques; assisting Xieng Khouang province in training medical personnel; and helping the Xieng Khouang health sector to effectively apply information technology in medical examination and treatment… The content of the cooperation agreement was implemented in accordance with the directives of the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province before the delegation's visit.

The delegation from the Nghe An health sector presented a commemorative painting to the health sector of Xieng Khouang province.

Nghe An and Xieng Khouang provinces are creating favorable conditions for people to access medical examinations, treatment, and care between hospitals in the two provinces. Nghe An is conducting a comprehensive survey to assess the needs and capacity of Xieng Khouang's healthcare system to receive support and technical expertise transfer. This will allow for the development of a specific and detailed plan to support Xieng Khouang in improving its medical examination and treatment capabilities. Nghe An will provide professional support to Xieng Khouang Provincial General Hospital through regular online consultations once a week and ad hoc online consultations. When the epidemic situation stabilizes, doctors will be sent to work and provide direct professional support. Nghe An hospitals will do their utmost to assist Xieng Khouang Provincial General Hospital in transferring and developing techniques according to a specific roadmap, ensuring practicality and relevance to real-world requirements; avoiding overly ambitious goals given the current shortage of human resources and medical equipment. The goal of this transfer is to ensure that the people of Xieng Khouang have access to good services, without having to travel to Vietnam or Vientiane for treatment. In the field of training, the Nghe An Health Department will organize practical training for Lao students in general, and students from Xieng Khouang province in particular, following the Institute-University model to ensure high-quality graduates. Vinh Medical University will strengthen cooperation with the Xieng Khouang Provincial Department of Health in training postgraduate medical staff for Xieng Khouang province.

The delegation visited and surveyed provincial, district, and grassroots health facilities in Xieng Khouang to develop appropriate and effective forms and content of support.

Supporting the development of information technology for the health sector in Xieng Khouang is undeniably challenging, but with determination, it is still achievable. The Xieng Khouang health sector needs to prepare three basic conditions: a technological foundation (computers, servers); skilled personnel; and a technology utilization policy. Regarding this, the Xieng Khouang health sector should consider leasing software and operating services from network providers and software suppliers such as Viettel. The health sectors of both provinces have also proposed solutions to address potential difficulties and obstacles that could disrupt the cooperation process: Xieng Khouang Provincial General Hospital needs to prepare resources in terms of equipment, facilities, and personnel to be ready to receive technology transfer; and develop a plan for basic Vietnamese language training for health workers before they participate in training courses. Regarding support for Xieng Khouang health workers to study abroad, the health sector and hospitals in Nghe An will provide completely free training; Vinh Medical University will provide dormitory accommodation. Regarding meal allowances for staff, the health departments of the two provinces will propose to the provincial leaders for consideration of a separate mechanism. Reporter: Thank you, sir!

Lesson 1: Deeply grateful to Laotian patients

Lesson 2: Transferring science and technology to hospitals in Laos.

Lesson 3: Helping you train high-quality healthcare personnel