This designation places Vinmec Times City alongside other tertiary hospitals, such as Bach Mai Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, and Hue Central Hospital, which are also part of the network. This milestone affirms the capabilities of Vinmec International General Hospital and establishes its new role as a leading entity, responsible for transferring expertise and disseminating safe, effective medication practices across a broad scope.

The recognition of Vinmec Times City as a "core hospital" represents a strategic step for Vinmec in developing clinical pharmacy, especially as medication safety receives increasing attention. Doctor, Pharmacist Phan Quynh Lan, Director of Pharmacy Block at Vinmec Healthcare System, highlighted the growing emphasis on patient safety in medication use.

Vinmec Times City International General Hospital – the unit recognized by the Ministry of Health as a core hospital for clinical pharmacy. *Photo: Vinmec Times City*

Globally, in developed nations like the US and Australia, clinical pharmacists are crucial within multidisciplinary healthcare ecosystems. They collaborate with doctors to make treatment decisions, optimize drug efficacy, and manage patient risks. Recognizing this, Vinmec positioned clinical pharmacy as a strategic pillar since its establishment in 2012.

At Vinmec, pharmacists move beyond the traditional role of dispensing medication. They are deeply involved in the treatment process, from developing regimens and reviewing medical orders to ensuring rational drug use and evaluating treatment efficacy. The presence of this team in every professional decision helps minimize errors, optimize costs, and enhance the quality of patient care.

Within the system, Vinmec Times City has led the implementation of many clinical pharmacy services according to international standards. These include drug reconciliation processes, high-risk medication management, and antibiotic stewardship programs. These models were subsequently transferred and replicated across 10 hospitals within the Vinmec Healthcare System.

Alongside its professional activities, Vinmec has heavily invested in developing pharmacist human resources, a key factor in maintaining quality. The pharmacist-to-patient ratio within the system stands at 1:31, significantly higher than the domestic average. Among the four clinical pharmacists in Vietnam who have achieved practice certification in the US, three were trained within the Vinmec environment. In 2025, the system will launch the first clinical pharmacy residency program in Vietnam, modeled after Australia, with many graduates currently working within the system.

Vinmec promotes the organization of clinical pharmacy conferences, advancing the standardization of safe medication use models in Vietnam. *Photo: Vinmec*

Pharmacist Nguyen Le Trang, Head of the Clinical Pharmacy Department at Vinmec Times City International General Hospital, explained that "core hospitals" are entities that lead in expertise, transfer technology, and support satellite hospitals in their respective fields. "In this role, Vinmec Times City will strengthen training, standardize processes, and disseminate good clinical pharmacy practices beyond the system’s scope," she added.

The hospital also emphasized that Vinmec Times City's recognition as a "core hospital" not only acknowledges its professional capabilities but also establishes a long-term responsibility. This responsibility involves standardizing medication practices, improving treatment quality, and contributing to the sustainable development of Vietnam's healthcare system.

Nhat Le