Sea and island healthcare system to be developed

At the training course

According to a report of the Ministry of Health (MoH), Vietnam has about 1 million people working at sea or on islands. The project to expand a healthcare network at sea and on islands will provide best services for coastal people and islanders.

The project was approved by the Prime Minister in 2013 to improve healthcare services for people living and working at sea and on islands, including health check-ups and emergency treatment.

Accordingly, from now till 2020, MoH will provide medical equipment, human resources and infrastructural facilities for six healthcare centers for emergency aid and treatment of common diseases, located at the Vietnam National Institute of Maritime Medicine in Hai Phong, Military Hospital 4 (Military Region 4) in Nghe An province, Hospital C in Da Nang city, Military Hospital 87 in Khanh Hoa province, the Vietsovpetro Hospital in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province and Military Hospital 78 on Kien Giang province's Phu Quoc Island.

The development of maritime medicine and the healthcare network at sea and on islands holds an important part in Vietnam’s national maritime development strategy. The Ministry will continue to promote its central role in organizing and instructing localities to draw up related subprojects in accordance to the sea and island environment.

Translated by Hong Thanh