A MoU was signed on March 2 in HCM City to implement an online training programme on diabetes treatment and management for healthcare workers in Việt Nam. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday (March 2) between the Administration of Medical Service under the Ministry of Health, the Việt Nam Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology and French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Vietnam to cooperate on the implementation of the online training programme on diabetes treatment and management, iSTEP-D Plus Online.

The iSTEP-D Plus Online programme includes three courses with 15 lively lectures delivered by leading endocrinologists that offer the latest specialised knowledge for Vietnamese general practitioners at grassroots hospitals.

The programme is expected to improve the healthcare worker’s professional capacity, enhance the ability to manage and treat diabetes at the grassroots levels, and contribute to the ultimate goal of optimising diabetes disease control and enhancing Vietnamese diabetes patients' quality of life.

Lương Ngọc Khuê, head of the Administration of Medical Service, said there are about 537 million people with diabetes around the world, according to statistics from the International Diabetes Federation in 2021.

Of this amount, the number of patients with diabetes in Việt Nam is about five million, accounting for 7.1 per cent of the population, and is expected to increase rapidly in the coming years.

This data confirms the urgent need to improve the professional capacity of medical staff for early detection, diagnosis, treatment, management, appreciation and timely care for people with diabetes as soon as possible, he said.

“Online training programmes are becoming more and more popular with the enthusiastic participation of medical staff around the world,” he said.

Following the success of the iSTEP-D and iSTEP-D Plus programmes, the iSTEP-D Plus Online programme marks an innovation in training in adapting to the current digital trend.

The signing event was witnessed by the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness, and French Nationals Abroad Olivier Becht and a high-ranking diplomatic delegation on his official visit to Việt Nam on the occasion of marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Becht visited the Sanofi Vietnam factory at Sài Gòn Hi-Tech Park in Thủ Đức City and said that Sanofi in Việt Nam represents France’s commitment to Việt Nam as the company is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its presence in the country.

“The stakes are high for companies operating in this field. But it is even more so for Vietnamese patients, whose access to the best treatment and continuity of care should be guaranteed,” he said.

Emin Turan, general director of Sanofi Vietnam, said the company is strengthening cooperation with its partnership in healthcare.

“We endeavor to fulfill our mission of chasing the miracles of science to improve Vietnamese people’s lives,” he said.

Diabetes is not only a top chronic disease but also one of the top 10 non-fatal diseases in the world. Việt Nam is one of the countries heavily affected by this disease.

Diabetes prevention and management is one of the top priorities of Asian countries’ public health care. — VNS