"More than one-quarter of adults aged 18-69 suffer from hypertension, and nearly 5 million people have diabetes, which is equivalent to over 7% of the adult population. Behind these figures lies the risk of stroke, heart failure, kidney failure, disability, and premature death," said Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan at the signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding on the Program to Enhance Non-Communicable Disease Management in Vietnam for the 2026-2028 period. The ceremony took place on 11/5 in Hanoi, between the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Administration and Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam.

Deputy Minister Thuan highlighted that non-communicable diseases are no longer solely a concern for hospitals or specific medical specialties. Instead, they have become a major challenge for public health, labor productivity, and the nation's sustainable development.

Vietnam is currently among the countries with a high stroke rate, experiencing 222,000 cases each year. However, a significant portion of these patients do not access emergency care in a timely manner. Only 23,2% of patients arrive at a hospital within the initial 4,5 hours of symptom onset, which is the "golden" window for effective intervention. Furthermore, approximately 20% of patients are transported to hospitals by professional emergency medical systems.

Doctor Nguyen Trong Khoa, Deputy Director of the Medical Examination and Treatment Administration. Photo: Le Hao

In addition, cardiovascular-renal-metabolic diseases and interstitial lung diseases are increasingly prevalent and affecting younger populations, placing substantial strain on the healthcare system. Many of these conditions are preventable, detectable early, and manageable with effective treatment.

"We cannot simply wait for patients to arrive at the hospital for treatment. The healthcare system must shift from late-stage treatment to early detection, and from fragmented care to continuous and comprehensive management," he stated. He added that effective control of non-communicable diseases is a top priority for Vietnam's health sector in the current phase.

Doctor Nguyen Trong Khoa, Deputy Director of the Medical Examination and Treatment Administration, explained that effective management of non-communicable diseases requires an integrated, continuous, and synchronized approach across general and specialized medical facilities. Therefore, the cooperation program focuses on four key objectives: standardizing professional guidelines; enhancing the capacity of approximately 2,000 doctors; strengthening the stroke treatment network; and boosting community communication regarding early detection and timely management of non-communicable diseases.

Concurrently, the Ministry of Health is developing an Out-of-Hospital Emergency Care Project. This initiative aims to shorten the "golden hour" for stroke emergencies, standardize the ambulance system, expand community first aid training, and apply artificial intelligence in emergency coordination. The project is expected to be piloted in six provinces and cities before nationwide expansion.

A young female patient receiving treatment at the Stroke Center, Bach Mai Hospital. Photo: Do Hang

Apisak Khunwet, a representative from Boehringer Ingelheim, noted that Vietnam is increasingly demonstrating a leading role in stroke care and treatment. Over 130 hospitals in Vietnam have been certified by the World Stroke Organization as stroke-ready hospitals. Through this collaboration, both parties aim to further enhance the quality of diagnosis, treatment, and management of non-communicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular-renal-metabolic diseases and stroke.

Le Nga