Nguyen Huu Tu, permanent vice president of the Vietnam Youth Union of Doctors, announced on 13/10 at the launch of the program "doctors are here, peace of mind starts here" that doctors participating in the program are licensed practitioners, primarily specializing in general internal medicine. This initiative is a collaboration between the Union and the Long Chau pharmacy and vaccination system. If a patient exhibits symptoms requiring in-depth assessment, doctors will guide or connect them to appropriate medical facilities for examination and necessary tests.

The program focuses on common conditions such as: hypertension, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and stroke. Residents gain access to official medical knowledge, risk factor assessments, and direct consultations with doctors. Activities at pharmacies serve as a connection, helping those in need find appropriate specialized medical examination and treatment facilities.

According to Tu, many chronic diseases progress silently, making it difficult for affected individuals to recognize risks early. Bringing doctors closer to the community helps residents become more proactive in their healthcare. The Vietnam Youth Union of Doctors is responsible for coordinating the team of doctors and experts, developing and validating medical content, and overseeing professional quality.

Consulting residents at a pharmacy. *Photo: Hanh Kieu*

A Long Chau representative stated that their network of over 2,700 pharmacies and a team of more than 22,000 pharmacists can help residents access consultation services more conveniently. Pharmacists play a role in guiding medication use and supporting customers, but they do not replace doctors in assessing, diagnosing, and treating diseases.

In the last three months of the year, the program expects to organize 80 to 150 consultation events at pharmacies nationwide, covering approximately three key health topics each month. The collaboration of 16 multinational pharmaceutical companies is expected to provide additional resources, experience, and initiatives to raise public health awareness and improve community healthcare.

Consultations and risk assessments at pharmacies do not replace examinations, diagnoses, and treatments provided at medical facilities. If abnormal signs are detected, residents should be guided to appropriate medical facilities for further checks, rather than stopping at a pharmacy consultation.

Le Phuong