The Dien Bien Phu Victory symbolizes the will, strength, and unity spirit of the Vietnamese people in the past. This spirit is still evident in the local healthcare sector's efforts to improve services for the provincial residents, particularly ethnic minority communities, showing the Party and State's care for social welfare activities. The provincial healthcare sector has made significant improvement by incorporating numerous modern medical advances into the treatment process.
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A doctor from Hospital E presents gifts to and instructs a veteran in Dien Bien province on how to use medicine. |
According to Pham Giang Nam, Director of the provincial Department of Health, when it was first established on May 1, 1953, the healthcare system of the province was rudimentary, with a small number of staff, no doctors, and a lack of medicine, equipment, and medical supplies. There were only two units at that time, namely the mobile medical team, and the emergency and rescue training team. Common infectious diseases, such as malaria, smallpox, measles, diphtheria, pertussis, tuberculosis, digestive, eye, and leprosy diseases were still prevalent.
Under the leadership of the local Party organization and authorities, the medical personnel at all levels in Dien Bien province have made utmost efforts to overcome difficulties and fulfill the task of caring for the people's health. At present, the provincial healthcare sector has 4 provincial-level hospitals with 840 beds, 10 district-level medical centers with 1,180 beds, and 7 local clinics with 80 beds. The preventive healthcare system includes 4 provincial specialized centers, 10 district-level centers. 100 percent of communes, wards, and townlets have medical stations while 81.09 percent of villages have medical staff. The private healthcare services have also seen significant development.
According to Director Pham Giang Nam, in recent years, thanks to the support of the central hospitals in training high-quality medical personnel, Dien Bien's healthcare sector now has many good doctors. Many advanced techniques have been mastered by the province's doctors. This has helped provide timely care and treatment for local people and citizens from the northern provinces of Laos with serious diseases right in the province. Patients have received diagnosis, consultation, and treatment quickly and conveniently, while the expertise of the doctors has increased. The healthcare for the local people is expected to continue to be ensured this year, actively contributing to developing socio-economy, maintaining national defense and security, and enhancing the integration of Dien Bien province.
Translated by Trung Thanh