During the inauguration ceremony on 27/2, Xuan Hoa Ward Health Station signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation with 6 major healthcare facilities in TP HCM, including: Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital, Eye Hospital, Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, Dermatology Hospital, Traditional Medicine Hospital, and Pasteur Institute TP HCM. The station also launched 6 "Community-based Continuous Healthcare Team - Family Medicine" teams. This marks the first time such a comprehensive community-based health management model has been implemented in Vietnam. Additionally, the ward plans to introduce a "medicine ATM" model to ensure timely provision of essential medicines for the elderly and patients with chronic illnesses.

Each team comprises a family doctor or general practitioner as the team leader, a coordinating nurse, a pharmacist or pharmacy assistant for medication management, a public health worker responsible for disease prevention, screening, and immunization, along with two to six community health collaborators. These collaborators are directly responsible for specific clusters of households, serving as a bridge between the health station and residents.

According to Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the TP HCM Department of Health, this model represents a complete shift from traditional healthcare thinking, moving from a passive approach of "waiting for patients at the station" to actively monitoring the health of residents at the household level. Residents in each area will have access to their doctor's phone number and email for 24/7 communication. The teams are also prepared to interact and provide on-site healthcare for the elderly, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances.

This model has been successfully implemented in several countries, including Brazil, the United Kingdom, Thailand, and Cuba. A common characteristic is the proactive management of residents' health by health stations, based on life stages and risk groups. This approach helps reduce the burden on higher-level healthcare facilities and gradually strengthens the foundation of preventive medicine at the grassroots level.

A doctor from Xuan Hoa Ward Health Station examines an elderly resident. Photo: Xuan Hoa Ward Health Station

The Xuan Hoa Ward Health Station is located at 18 Vo Van Tan, occupying a campus area of 558 m2. The total investment for the station was nearly 28 billion VND, funded by the TP HCM budget. Currently, the station has 63 staff members, including 18 doctors specializing in basic fields, meeting the primary healthcare needs of residents in the area.

By the end of 2026, Xuan Hoa Ward aims for over 90% of residents in the pilot area to have personal electronic health records established. Additionally, over 95% of individuals in high-risk groups are targeted to have their records fully and continuously updated. The ward also aims for over 70% of patients with stable hypertension and diabetes to be managed, monitored, and continue treatment at the grassroots healthcare level by the healthcare team.

Starting 1/1, 168 ward and commune health stations across TP HCM will be transferred to local government administration, rather than remaining under district health centers as before. These health stations will be authorized to provide medical examinations and treatment with a full range of medicines covered by health insurance, while also taking on the role of primary healthcare providers for local residents.

Le Phuong