On 19/1, in Ha Noi, Doctor Nguyen Trong Khoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Administration (Ministry of Health), and Mongkol Sankum, General Director of Medtronic Vietnam, representing the two entities, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the "Program to Enhance the Quality of Stroke Care and Treatment for Patients in Vietnam". This program is scheduled for implementation during phase 2026-2028, reflecting a commitment between the public and private sectors to reduce the burden of stroke, a leading cause of death and disability in Vietnam. According to 2022 data, Vietnam recorded 196,000 new stroke cases, 167,000 stroke-related deaths, and 1,275,000 people living with stroke.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability globally, with an estimated 93.8 million cases in 2021. The lifetime risk of stroke has increased by 50% over the past 20 years, with projections indicating that one in four adults will experience a stroke in their lifetime.

Representatives from the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Administration (Ministry of Health) and Medtronic Vietnam company sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the "Program to Enhance the Quality of Stroke Care and Treatment for Patients in Vietnam". *Photo: Hoang Anh*

Under the cooperation agreement, Medtronic Vietnam will collaborate with the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Administration to implement activities that strengthen stroke treatment capacity through three main activities: The first is clinical training, technology transfer, and updating treatment practices according to international standards. Next, the two parties will cooperate to develop a set of clinical service quality standards for stroke management, serving as a basis for medical examination and treatment facilities to evaluate and improve patient management processes consistently and effectively. The third activity is strengthening the stroke treatment network by connecting stroke centers, while also standardizing the transfer, reception, and management processes for stroke patients to shorten intervention time during the "golden hour" period.

The cooperation program also identifies the application of technology solutions, data, and clinical decision support tools as a key focus, aiming to improve the effectiveness of diagnosis, treatment, and patient management across various technical levels of medical examination and treatment.

Professor Doctor Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, at the signing ceremony. *Photo: Hoang Anh*

As the leading agency in signing and implementing the MoU, Doctor Nguyen Trong Khoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Administration, stated that the medical examination and treatment system strives to strengthen and expand the network of stroke centers in both quantity and quality, aiming to approach international treatment standards. Standardizing care processes, developing treatment units, and increasing technology application will help patients access emergency stroke care during the "golden time", reducing the burden on families and society. "We highly appreciate Medtronic's companionship in training, technology transfer, and sharing international experience to improve the quality of stroke treatment in Vietnam", Doctor Nguyen Trong Khoa said.

Mongkol Sankum, General Director of Medtronic Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, stated that the signing ceremony is a cooperation milestone between Medtronic and the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Administration and an important step towards a common goal: improving the quality of stroke care and treatment for patients. He added that this MoU reflects Medtronic's commitment to partner with the government and hospitals to enhance treatment capacity, bringing medical advancements and modern technology closer to patients nationwide. "We expect that enhanced professional training, standardized care models, and increased community awareness will create meaningful long-term changes – not only improving treatment quality but also contributing to building an equitable, effective, and sustainable stroke care system", Mongkol Sankum said.

Mongkol Sankum, General Director of Medtronic Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, speaks at the event. *Photo: Hoang Anh*

Alongside professional activities, Medtronic will accompany the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Administration in health communication and education to raise community awareness about stroke prevention and control; supporting people to recognize early warning signs, understand risk factors, and proactively implement preventive measures. According to WHO, most of the stroke burden is due to 10 modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, air pollution, smoking, high LDL-cholesterol, high sodium diet, high fasting blood glucose, kidney dysfunction, overweight, physical inactivity, and alcohol abuse.

Professor Doctor Nguyen Van Thong, President of the Vietnam Stroke Association, emphasized that the association will collaborate with the Hanoi Stroke Association, Ho Chi Minh City Stroke Association, and medical examination and treatment facilities to provide expertise and technical support; accompanying the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Administration and Medtronic Vietnam in implementing the cooperation program.

Kim Anh