People wait for examinations at Can Tho Oncology Hospital. Photo: An Binh

The signing ceremony took place on 16/1. These three hospitals, located adjacently in Ninh Kieu ward, will coordinate inter-specialty consultations and teleconsultations among themselves and with other medical facilities nationwide, as well as international organizations. They will also implement an inter-hospital 'red alert' system, transfer technical services, and efficiently utilize specialized medical equipment. Additionally, the collaboration will extend to screening for diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and cancer.

Furthermore, the three hospitals plan to share human resources, medical equipment, and chemicals. They will also develop digital transformation initiatives, apply scientific and technological advancements, and promote health education.

Doctor Vo Van Kha, Director of Can Tho City Oncology Hospital, stated that the cooperation among these neighboring hospitals aims to effectively leverage their mutual resources.

For instance, while the hospital specializes in oncology, cancer treatment often involves other specialties, particularly internal medicine, surgery, and emergency resuscitation. Therefore, the support from Can Tho City General Hospital and Military Hospital 121 will significantly benefit the Oncology Hospital in the coming period, he noted.

Doctor Tran Manh Hung, Director of Military Hospital 121, highlighted that his facility is equipped with modern diagnostic imaging machines, including a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) machine, a SPECT/CT scintigraphy machine, and a liver elastography ultrasound machine. These advanced, high-tech devices help detect complex conditions early, such as stroke, myocardial infarction, cancer, musculoskeletal and vascular diseases, and liver cirrhosis.

The hospital has established a 30-bed intensive care and anti-poisoning center and a 100-bed dialysis center, both fully equipped with modern facilities. The unit also invested in a radiotherapy machine and the region's most advanced 3D ultrasound machine. "If the Oncology Hospital is overloaded with many patients, they can be transferred to Military Hospital 121 for maximum support regarding equipment, beds, operating rooms, emergency rooms, and resuscitation," Doctor Hung explained.

Doctor Hung also emphasized that the collaboration offers a significant advantage in forming a high-tech medical center in the Mekong Delta, situated in central Can Tho City. Doctor Tran Da Thao, Deputy Director of Can Tho City General Hospital, noted that her unit possesses a highly skilled workforce capable of performing many advanced techniques typically found in provincial-level general hospitals.

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Viet Nga, Deputy Director of Can Tho City Department of Health, expressed her desire for the three hospitals to concretize the signed agreement thoroughly. This would ensure patients receive all benefits from the collaboration without additional procedures or inconveniences.

Patients receive dialysis at Military Hospital 121. Photo: An Binh

During the signing ceremony, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep, Vice Chairwoman of Can Tho City People's Committee, stated that the city's development goal by 2030 is to become a specialized medical center. This would serve as the last-resort healthcare facility for the Mekong Delta region, reducing overload, costs, and difficulties for patients who currently must travel to Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, the cooperation agreement among the three hospitals demonstrates proactive and timely action.

Can Tho Oncology Hospital, with a 400-bed capacity, often has to add 50 beds to meet patient demand. Its infrastructure, used for decades, is severely degraded. The facility is currently overloaded with both outpatients and inpatients, consistently treating 500 to 600 hospitalized patients.

Can Tho City General Hospital has a 500-bed capacity and features a helipad on its rooftop. Military Hospital 121, a first-class general medical facility with 700 beds, operates under the Logistics and Technical Department, Military Region 9, Ministry of National Defense. Currently, it receives 1,400 to 1,600 patients daily from Can Tho and the Mekong Delta for examination and treatment, with approximately 650 inpatients.

An Binh