Health Ministry, AstraZeneca Vietnam cooperate in building sustainable health system
The Ministry of Health and AstraZeneca Vietnam on March 8 signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation under which they will work with partners to promote existing and new programmes to improve public awareness of diseases, prevention, and early detection.
Representatives of the Health Ministry and AstraZeneca at the MoU signing ceremony in Hanoi on March 8. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health and AstraZenecaVietnam on March 8 signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation underwhich they will work with partners to promote existing and new programmes toimprove public awareness of diseases, prevention, and early detection.
In particular, they will cooperate in such programmes as “Forhealthy lungs”, which aims to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and managementof asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease andlung cancer; a programme helping the youth adopt a healthy lifestyle to preventnon-communicable diseases; CareMe, which aims to consolidate the system caringfor cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic diseases; the second phase of acooperation programme for the sustainability and resilience of Vietnam’s healthsystem; and another on strengthening the capacity of the clinical research andtesting system in the country.
At the signing ceremony in Hanoi, Deputy Minister ofHealth Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said surmounting different waves of COVID-19infections, Vietnam’s health system has proved its responsiveness andresilience to contain and safely and flexibly adapt to the pandemic.
However,the system has been heavily affected by the pandemic as well as lingeringchallenges such as the burden of non-communicable diseases, population aging, thelimited capacity of grassroots healthcare establishments, and the shortage of medicalworkers.
To achieve universal health coverage as part of theSustainable Development Goals, Vietnam's health system needs to bereinforced comprehensively with better capacity and efficiency towards anequal, efficient, quality, and sustainable system that meets all people’shealthcare demand, she went on.
Appreciating AstraZeneca’s assistance for Vietnam’s healthsector, especially in the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccinestrategy, Huong described the MoU signing as an important landmark in bilateralcooperation and expressed her hope that the relevant parties will work togethereffectively to obtain the set targets.
Leon Wang, AstraZeneca Executive Vice Presidentfor International Markets, said the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change hasshown the importance of protecting and building a sustainable and resilient healthsystem, which is a common target requiring public - private partnerships alongwith inter-sectoral and multinational coordination./.
The expansion of remote medical examination and treatment has helped both patients and healthcare workers, especially in mountainous and remote areas, access advanced techniques.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are on the rise in Vietnam, especially among the young and people of working age, experts said at the workshop on “Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and Cholesterol management in Vietnam" held by the Vietnam Heart Association and Novartis Vietnam on December 15.
Hanoi aims to have doctors at all healthcare stations by 2025, according to a human resources development plan for the 2022-2025 period issued by the municipal People’s Committee.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 24 asked the healthcare sector to develop a fair, high quality, effective and internationally integrated medical system, with the growth of both State-owned and private medical systems and the modern and traditional medicine.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on February 24 adopted two resolutions on the organisation of the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and the High-Level Meeting on the Fight Against Tuberculosis, which are expected to be held during the High-Level Week of the UNGA’s 78th session in September.
Vietnam now boasts a nationwide healthcare network with 1,665 hospitals, 384 of which are non-public, supported by local commune- and ward-level stations. At the end of 2024, hospital bed capacity reached 34 per 10,000 people, slightly above the global average.
The 56-year-old patient from Quang Tri province was discharged in stable condition as he no longer experienced shortness of breath and was able to walk, move around, and eat normally.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Vu Trung, Director of the Pasteur Institute, said that under the MoU, the two sides committed to promoting diverse and practical collaborative activities, including joint conferences and workshops, exchanges of scholars, researchers and students, sharing academic materials, and the development of specific programmes and projects in scientific research, training, and epidemic prevention.
TytoCare, a leading Israeli telemedicine company based in Netanya, is willing to work with Vietnamese regulators, insurers, and healthcare providers to develop a sustainable digital health ecosystem.
The partnership is under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding on the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control, signed in Hanoi on July 22.
An estimated 7 million Vietnamese are currently living with diabetes, but about 50% remain undiagnosed, a dangerous gap that is fuelling serious, preventable complications and increasing the burden on the healthcare system.
In 2024, Vietnam achieved 99% coverage for the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine, up from 80% in 2023. Immunisation coverage in the country has not only rebounded to the high levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic but has now surpassed the rates recorded in 2019.
Health authorities in HCM City have issued an urgent alert after six people died from dengue fever, amid a spike in infections driven by the onset of the rainy season.
During the peak months of July and August 2025, the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) needs at least 90,000 units of blood to supply 180 hospitals in the northern region. However, despite continuous efforts, the reserve blood is still short of 30,000 units.
The Hanoi ceremony highlighted efforts to ensure all citizens, especially women and youth, can access accurate information and healthcare services to make informed reproductive choices.
After such a long time, the law has revealed many limitations, prompting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to gather opinions to amend the law to give more chances to thousands of patients every year.
Currently, cardiovascular specialists from the 108 Military Central Hospital are working alongside a team of Prof.Dr. Jan D. Schmitto, Deputy Director of MHH’s Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery on clinical trials for MCS devices, implanted in heart failure patients either as a bridge to transplantation or as permanent treatment.
The centre not only serves residents living on the island, but also receives tens of thousands of visitors every year, according to Assoc Prof Dr Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the HCM CIty Department of Health.
Not only does Vietnam attract international tourists with its landscapes, culture, and cuisine, but it is also gradually becoming a reliable destination for medical treatment, offering high-quality services at reasonable costs.
Over the past six months, 150 communal health stations in provinces including Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Ben Tre and Ca Mau have been equipped with information technology systems. In addition, 117 key provincial healthcare workers have received training, with thousands more expected to follow.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Ministry of Health swiftly launched a telemedicine programme, connecting more than 1,000 medical establishments nationwide. The model, which remains in operation, has benefited tens of thousands of patients, including foreign nationals.
After more than three weeks of intensive treatment, the patient's pneumonia improved, breathing stabilised, sedation was reduced, and the breathing tube was removed. He is now conscious, able to eat orally, and in recovery.
Representatives of the Health Ministry and AstraZeneca at the MoU signing ceremony in Hanoi on March 8. (Photo: VNA) 
