Patients are examined at Thảo Điền Ward health station in HCM City’s District 2. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — HCM City is striving to become a centre of medical care for the ASEAN region, a leader of the city’s Department of Health said.

The health sector will also focus to improve the capacity of disease control and prevention, strengthen grassroots healthcare networks and intensive care ambulance services this year, said Tăng Chí Thượng, director of the department.

Development of human resources, proper investment in infrastructure and medical equipment are priority areas in order to fulfill these tasks, he said at a meeting late last week to launch the tasks for 2023.

Digital transformation and the application of advanced techniques will be fostered as part of measures to realise these tasks, he said.

A project to set up a hi-tech screening and diagnostic centre at Oncology Hospital No.1 is being developed as part of efforts to develop a specialised medical care centre for the ASEAN region.

The hi-tech screening and diagnostic centre will help locals and foreigners, especially expats living in Việt Nam, access high-quality health check services and examinations.

It is expected to reduce the number of patients travelling abroad for medical examinations and treatment and boost medical tourism.

Dương Anh Đức, deputy chairman of the city People's Committee, said that the health sector must be one of the pioneers of digital transformation to improve the quality of health services and promote the city as a centre of high quality medical care in the region.

He asked the department to coordinate with the University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Phạm Ngọc Thạch Medical University to train high-quality human resources. — VNS