On 25/3, Director of the Department of Health of TP HCM, Tang Chi Thuong, announced this campaign in response to World Health Day on 7/4. The health sector is also launching a continuous healthcare team model connected to residential areas in three communes: Bac Tan Uyen, Hiep Phuoc, and Dat Do. The initiative prioritizes areas far from the city center, enabling residents to access high-quality medical services where they live rather than traveling long distances.

Hung Vuong Hospital doctors apply AI for cervical cancer screening for residents in Thanh An island commune, 2025. Photo: Yen Pham.

The program involves 56 public hospitals, including top-tier facilities such as Cho Ray, Thong Nhat, Dai hoc Y Duoc TP HCM, and Quan y 175. Senior doctors are directly deployed to local facilities, collaborating with on-site staff to conduct examinations and consultations for approximately 16,000 individuals. A key highlight this year is the health sector's introduction of specialized screening techniques at the commune and ward levels to enable early detection of dangerous diseases often overlooked by the community.

Beyond general check-ups, doctors directly assess the risk of common cancers, congenital heart defects in children, retinal diseases, refractive errors, along with dermatological and dental issues. Medical stations also screen for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and chronic respiratory conditions. During their work, medical staff provide detailed guidance on nutrition, lifestyle, and self-monitoring health practices appropriate for each age group.

For cases showing signs of illness, local health authorities immediately place them under management and monitoring, or refer patients to higher-level hospitals for timely treatment. Health officials update all data into the system for long-term health care based on residential area.

According to Mr. Thuong, deploying specialist doctors to communes and wards clearly demonstrates a new direction, shifting from "passive treatment" to "active public health management". This is a step towards building a "multi-layered - multi-polar - multi-center" health system with grassroots healthcare as a solid foundation. The health sector urges residents, especially the elderly, children, and high-risk groups, to actively participate in this periodic screening drive to protect their own and their families' health.

Le Phuong