On 21/6, Associate Professor, Doctor Tang Chi Thuong, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, shared his views after the 11-year-old boy recovered and was preparing for discharge. He stated that this achievement was significant in saving a child's life for their family and strengthening confidence in the power of professional coordination throughout the healthcare system.

The boy was run over by a car and admitted to Vung Tau General Hospital with severe multiple injuries. The hospital's team performed emergency surgery and intensive resuscitation, even as the patient's condition deteriorated multiple times, including instances of cardiac arrest.

For over 10 hours, as they fought for the child's life, doctors at Vung Tau General Hospital held continuous remote consultations with resuscitation, emergency, and surgical specialists from Children's Hospital 1 to determine the optimal treatment plan. Afterward, the patient was transferred to Children's Hospital 1, which activated an internal "code red" alert, mobilizing multiple specialties to collaborate in saving the boy.

"Frontline doctors did not give up on a case where the chances of survival were nearly depleted", he shared.

Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Tang Chi Thuong. *Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Press Center*.

According to the head of the city's health sector, a highlight of this case was the effectiveness of the inter-hospital professional support model. Despite the distance of over 100 km between the two medical facilities, continuous remote consultations ensured timely and unified treatment decisions.

He noted that previously, with such severe trauma, patients might not have had enough time to await transfer to a higher-level hospital. Now, enhanced local emergency capacity, combined with continuous support from specialized hospitals, has helped preserve chances of survival during the crucial "golden hours". Therefore, this is not just the success of one case but evidence of the effective network of professional support among hospitals.

"This outcome reflects the effectiveness of the training, technology transfer, remote consultations, and enhanced emergency response capabilities at grassroots-level hospitals that the Ho Chi Minh City health sector is persistently implementing", Mr. Thuong stated.

Following Ho Chi Minh City's expansion and integration of neighboring areas for healthcare development, geographical distance challenges have increased. However, according to health sector leaders, distance should not equate to disparities in survival opportunities. The goal is for all residents, regardless of their location within the city's healthcare system, to access quality services. Critically ill patients must receive timely treatment through the seamless coordination of the entire system.

Doctors performing surgery on the child patient. *Photo: Hospital provided*.

The director of the Department of Health commended the medical teams at Vung Tau General Hospital and Children's Hospital 1 for their responsibility, dedication, and professional competence in the treatment process. Each patient saved brings happiness to their family, serving as motivation for the health sector to continue improving the system, enhancing professional capabilities, and strengthening connections among medical facilities.

Le Phuong