The video conference was jointly held by the Health Ministry and the Vietnamese Embassy in the U.S., with the participation of Deputy Health Minister Tran Van Thuan, Director of the Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Luong Ngoc Khue, leaders and heads of several central-level hospitals’ renal departments, and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar.

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Patients treated with hemodialysis in Hung Yen

Speaking at the event, Thuan said statistics and scientific evidence show that in the world and in Vietnam in particular, the elderly and those with chronic diseases, especially end-stage chronic kidney failure, have been affected the most by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The implementation of the social distancing and COVID-19 prevention and control measures has been a challenge for kidney care services such as dialysis and peritoneal dialysis at medical clinics, he added, adding that since July 25, Vietnam has recorded 38 COVID-19 patients who have been treated with hemodialysis for years and also suffered other underlying and chronic diseases.

Foreign experts advised Vietnam to conduct peritoneal dialysis at home to minimize the risk of infection at hospitals.

Vietnam was also recommended to consider using automatic peritoneal dialysis with remote prescription function to treat patients with artificial kidneys, which is an effective method the U.S. is applying.

Source: VNA