Currently, coast guard units do not have medical stations. They only maintain medical teams to provide basic healthcare for troops. Strictly observing regulations in their task performance, the medical teams have always ensured a timely and adequate supply of medicines and medical equipment for tasks, such as patrols, law enforcement at sea, and search and rescue operations.
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Medical staff provide emergency aid for a troubled troop at sea. |
The coast guard force has operated independently for a long time at sea at high intensity and under harsh weather conditions. Therefore, providing comprehensive healthcare for troops before, during, and after their missions at sea has been a top priority. Every year, the units conduct health check-ups for all officers and soldiers; classify their health conditions before assigning missions to them; and promptly identify chronic illnesses and high-risk health factors. In 2024, more than 120 medical officers and staff supported the ships and boats of the force on duty at sea, and took part in nearly 30 rescue operations, saving hundreds of lives.
Meanwhile, the coast guard force’s medical staff have focused on caring for the health of recruits after three months of training. Therefore, the quality of medical services of the force has improved, helping troops feel secure to continue to perform their missions.
The medical force has coordinated with local authorities to conduct dissemination for troops and people about hygiene practices and disease prevention measures, while regularly organizing activities to provide free health check-ups and medicines for people in many provinces and cities via programs, including “Coast guards stand by fishermen,” “I love national sea and islands,” “Coast guards stand by ethnic minority people and religious followers,” among others. Therefore, the coast guard force’s medical officers and staff have become a firm fulcrum for fishermen to reach out to the sea and develop the marine economy.
In order to meet the higher task requirements at sea, in the time to come, the coast guard force’s medical sector should strengthen the emulation movement to build a “five-good military medical unit,” focus on raising the quality of human resources; and enhance the capacity of the medical work, especially on ships on duty at sea.
By Senior Colonel Luong Xuan Loi, Military Medical Chief of the Vietnam Coast Guard
Translated by Quynh Oanh