Hanoi (VNA) 𝄹– Vietnam’s National Cancer Hospital (K Hospital) and Japan’s Nagoya University Hospital on February 23 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), marking a new development step in bilateral cooperation.

Under the document, the two sides will organise visits and exchanges of lecturers, scholars, managers and students; promote collaboration in cancer research; and coordinate in holding conferences, seminars and symposiums. They will also improve training in robotics, laparoscopic surgery, and microsurgery, hold consultations and introduce patients between the two hospitals. Japanese experts along with Associate Professor Pham Van Binh, Deputy Director of K Hospital, and the hospital's surgical team consulted cases of stomach, colorectal, and esophageal, and liver cancers to come up with the best treatment plans, and bring optimal results to patients. During the first four days of visiting and working at the K Hospital, the experts successfully performed surgery on four cases of gastrointestinal cancer using modern techniques. Among the four patients undergoing robotic operations was a 67-year-old woman admitted to the hospital due to issues with sleep and weight loss. After an examination, doctors diagnosed her with low rectal cancer, noting a tumor occupying nearly half of the circumference of her intestines. Following a consultation between doctors from the Vietnamese hospital and Japanese specialists, a decision was made to conduct surgery on the woman using a state-of-the-art surgical robot available at the hospital. The patient is reported to be recovering well after the successful surgery, according to the medical team. On the afternoon of February 23, doctors are scheduled to perform another robotic surgery to treat gastrointestinal cancer. Binh and Professor Shuji Takiguchi, Director of the Japan Society of Endoscopic Surgery, emphasised that robotic surgery to treat digestive cancer has many advantages over open surgery or normal endoscopy. It has clear visual images, and highly flexible robotic arms help perform meticulous dissection to help surgeons do accurately. Robotic surgery method also ensures aesthetics, minimal trauma, no bleeding and maximum pain relief, and helps reduce hospital stay while the results of cancer treatment are still guaranteed. Professor Le Van Quang, Director of the K Hospital, shared that the application of modern new techniques in cancer treatment, especially in surgical treatment, has brought significant progress to patients during the recovery process and improves the quality of life. The K Hospital has cooperated effectively with Japanese partners over the years. This includes the companionship of the National Cancer Centre of (NCCJ) in cancer detection, diagnostic consultations, and online treatment of cases. The support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is critical in the project to upgrade medical equipment at the Vietnamese hospital as well as in training and technology transfer from Japanese experts to its doctors./.