Associate Professor, Doctor Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, stated at the inauguration of Carmel International Hospital on 30/9 that private healthcare is becoming an important resource within the city's healthcare system.

Ho Chi Minh City currently operates 181 hospitals. Among these, 97 are private facilities, comprising 49 general hospitals and 48 specialized hospitals, offering 7,698 beds, which represents about 18% of the city's total bed capacity. The private sector also provides over 330 general clinics, more than 11,000 specialized clinics, along with thousands of pharmacies and other medical services.

City healthcare leaders recognize that the development of private healthcare offers patients more treatment options, eases the burden on public hospitals, and promotes innovation in management, technology, and service quality. However, the proportion of private hospital beds remains low compared to the number of hospitals. This indicates significant potential for the private sector to further invest, expand its scale, and enhance service provision capacity in Ho Chi Minh City.

Associate Professor, Doctor Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health. Photo: Tho Nguyen

Ho Chi Minh City is orienting its healthcare system towards a "multi-tiered, multi-polar, multi-center" model, applicable to both public and private hospitals. The multi-tiered approach involves continuous care from primary levels, chronic disease management, to specialized treatment and rehabilitation. The multi-polar strategy aims to bring treatment capacity closer to where residents live, reducing excessive concentration in central areas. The multi-center approach focuses on forming specialized centers linked into a network.

The Department of Health leadership expects private hospitals to strengthen connections with the city's healthcare network, participating in consultations, patient transfers, training, and community healthcare programs. The goal is for both public and private sectors to develop together within a unified, patient-centered healthcare ecosystem.

Doctor Duong Huy Luong, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Ministry of Health, emphasizes that investing in modern facilities and equipment is only an initial condition. Private hospitals must focus on human resources, patient safety, professional quality, and treatment effectiveness. Private hospitals should also link with expert networks and tertiary hospitals to provide professional support and transfer patients when necessary.

The Ministry of Health is developing a medical tourism project, which is expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister this year. According to Mr. Luong, this presents an opportunity for private hospitals to improve service quality and expand their capacity to serve domestic patients, overseas Vietnamese, and international visitors.

CT scan for a patient. Photo: Hospital provided

Carmel International Hospital, located in Binh Trung ward (formerly District 2), has a capacity of nearly 300 beds. It offers specialized departments such as cardiology, neurology, musculoskeletal, oncology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, along with intensive care, emergency, and diagnostic imaging services.

Le Phuong