In his letter, President Ho Chi Minh earnestly reminded healthcare workers:
“Doctors must love their patients; patients entrust their lives to you, and the government entrusts you with their care. This is an honorable duty. Therefore, healthcare workers must treat patients as their own family, sharing in their pain and suffering. A true doctor is as compassionate as a mother.”
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Doctors at Hue Central Hospital perform corneal transplants using corneas donated by American donors |
Since then, generations of Vietnamese doctors and healthcare workers have worked to uphold these values, affirming the vital role of the medical sector in national development. February 27 was officially designated as Vietnamese Doctors' Day, a moment for the entire nation to honor the dedication and contributions of medical professionals.
Over the past 70 years, Vietnam’s healthcare sector has continuously advanced, strengthening its expertise, ethics, and application of science and technology in fulfilling President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings.
During the nation’s most difficult years, late Minister of Health Pham Ngoc Thach encapsulated the essence of medical service in three simple yet profound principles: “Warmly welcome patients upon arrival; care for them wholeheartedly during treatment; and offer thoughtful guidance upon discharge.”
During the struggle for national liberation and reconstruction, many talented doctors, such as Ho Dac Di, Pham Ngoc Thach, Ton That Tung, and Dang Van Ngu, gave up comfortable lives abroad to join the revolution. They became shining examples of patriotism, compassion, and medical ethics, laying the foundation for modern Vietnamese medicine.
Professor Ho Dac Di once remarked: “Among all professions, teaching and medicine are the noblest. One brings life, while the other imparts knowledge. Both demand a pure conscience, an eternal truth in any humane society.”
As Vietnam enters a new era of economic and social development, the healthcare sector has remained deeply committed to Ho Chi Minh's ideology. In 1996, the Ministry of Health issued a directive on medical ethics, introducing 12 ethical principles for comprehensive adoption. These efforts, alongside transparent regulations, have significantly elevated healthcare quality and ethics nationwide.
Looking back, after nearly a century of French colonial rule without a developed healthcare system, Vietnam faced enormous challenges post-1954. The country suffered from inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of skilled personnel, and widespread disease. Yet, under Party leadership, the sector rapidly expanded, establishing networks from central to local levels, reaching even the most remote ethnic regions. The proficiency of medical professionals steadily improved, enabling them to meet the nation's healthcare needs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnamese doctors and healthcare workers once again demonstrated their unwavering commitment. They stood on the frontlines, working tirelessly to save lives, and many made the ultimate sacrifice.
On February 27, 2022, as Vietnam successfully contained the pandemic, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his profound gratitude:
“We remember the thousands of doctors and healthcare workers who quietly served on arduous and dangerous battlefields, many of whom heroically sacrificed their lives for the cause of national liberation and reunification. We also remember the doctors and healthcare workers who served in impoverished and underdeveloped medical facilities after the war, dedicated to protecting and caring for the people's health. Whether in times of war or peace, the wholehearted dedication of medical professionals and healthcare workers to serve the people and soldiers has always left a lasting impression and deep gratitude in each of us.”
Over the past seven decades, Vietnam’s healthcare sector has achieved remarkable progress. The preventive healthcare network, medical facilities, pharmaceutical production, and supply systems have progressed rapidly. Policies on healthcare financing and insurance have improved, while scientific capabilities among medical professionals continue to grow.
In more than 30 years of implementing disease prevention and control efforts, Vietnam has developed robust capabilities in monitoring, detecting, diagnosing, and responding to outbreaks swiftly and effectively. The country’s capacity to prevent and control dangerous and emerging diseases has been significantly strengthened. Treatment outcomes for patients have shown remarkable improvements, while preparedness and readiness to respond to hazardous epidemics have reached a pro-active and positive level.
The country has successfully controlled and eliminated dangerous diseases such as smallpox, polio, neonatal tetanus, and plague, while significantly reducing the impact of dengue fever, viral encephalitis, and tuberculosis. Vietnam was also among the first countries to contain outbreaks of SARS, H5N1, and H1N1, and effectively prevented the entry of emerging diseases such as H7N9, Ebola, and MERS-CoV.
Vietnamese medical professionals continue to push the boundaries of science and medicine, making valuable contributions to both healthcare and national development. Many distinguished doctors, including Professors Ton That Tung, Dang Van Ngu, Hoang Dinh Cam, Le The Trung and Pham Ngoc Thach, have been recognized as national heroes and exemplary figures in the medical field.
The 70th anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors' Day (February 27, 1955 – 2025) will be marked by a grand national ceremony, broadcast live on Vietnam Television at 8:00pm on February 26, from the National Convention Centre in Hanoi.
With the theme “The Epic of White-Coated Soldiers,” the event will reflect on the challenges, triumphs, and tireless dedication of Vietnam’s healthcare sector over the past seven decades. It will also serve as an occasion to honor generations of Vietnamese doctors who have devoted their intellect, energy, and even their lives to the nation's well-being. Their legacy embodies President Ho Chi Minh’s timeless teaching: “A doctor must be as compassionate as a mother.”
Source: VNA