Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited two leading hospitals on the morning of 16/2, extending Tet greetings to the medical staff. He expressed his emotion, acknowledging that while many wished for family reunions during the holiday, healthcare workers remained dedicated, utilizing every precious hour to save patients.
The Prime Minister praised the hospitals' Tet preparedness, noting improved facilities and equipment, which contributed to greater patient and family satisfaction. He also observed the unity among the medical staff.
The head of government emphasized the critical role of Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc Friendship Hospital as leading specialized institutions and a last resort in the fight for life, representing a significant hope for patients. He urged both hospitals to uphold the principle of "three no's": do not cause inconvenience to patients, do not let patients down, and do not allow them to lose their last chance, however small.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits a patient undergoing treatment at Bach Mai Hospital, morning of 16/2. Photo: Nhat Bac |
The Prime Minister called on both hospitals to enhance the quality of medical examination and treatment, accelerate digitalization, facilitate technology transfer, and develop their staff with strong medical knowledge, excellent skills, and profound ethics. He also directed the Ministry of Health and the hospitals to effectively utilize their second facilities, prioritize human resources, arrange transportation and accommodation for staff, and continue to build their brand.
The Prime Minister suggested that Viet Duc Friendship Hospital should provide support to other medical facilities when needed. He also approved the recommendation to upgrade Bach Mai Medical College to Bach Mai University of Medicine and Pharmacy.
Associate Professor, Doctor Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, stated that during the Tet holiday, the hospital maintained inter-departmental "red alerts". Its principles include not refusing emergency cases, not deferring patients, and preventing systemic errors caused by negligence. Additionally, the hospital provided 3,600 free meals daily for patients and their families over the three-day Tet period.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with officials and medical staff of Viet Duc Hospital. Photo: Nhat Bac |
Established in 1911, Bach Mai Hospital holds the distinction of being Vietnam's first special-class hospital. In 2025, the hospital managed over 1,9 million outpatient visits and treated 263,254 inpatient cases, with an average length of stay of 4,89 days. It also conducted online consultations with more than 50 satellite hospitals and implemented a paperless hospital model, reducing examination waiting times by 30%.
Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, established in 1902, serves as a leading surgical center. In 2025, the hospital performed over 83,000 surgeries and managed 93,000 inpatient treatments. It also continued to report numerous complex organ transplants from brain-dead donors.
Associate Professor, Doctor Duong Duc Hung, Director of Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, explained that the hospital opened an additional operating room A during the Tet holiday to promptly handle emergency trauma cases, including limb fractures, spinal injuries, and maxillofacial trauma.
Vu Tuan
