Visiting foreign experts and doctors at Bình Dân Hospital demonstrate robotic surgery at the hospitals’ 20th annual science and technology conference. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The 20th annual science and technology conference with the theme “Connecting with international surgical experts” held last weekend by Bình Dân Hospital in HCM City attracted 26 attendees from countries like the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and Korea.

Prof Thomas Ahlering of the US, a top expert on urologic oncology (cancers of the male and female urinary systems and male reproductive organs) from the University of California, performed a prostate surgery using robots.

He is known to have done over 3,000 successful robotic surgeries in several countries.

There were two more demonstrative surgeries by the visiting experts and hospital doctors, including a robotic low anterior resection for rectal cancer and a penile implantation.

“This is a great opportunity for Vietnamese healthcare personnel to interact with foreign doctors,” director of Bình Dân Hospital, Assoc Prof Dr Trần Vĩnh Hưng, said.

Assoc Prof Dr Tăng Chí Thượng, director of the city Department of Health, said Bình Dân is among the central hospitals to successfully use modern technologies in general surgery.

He said other hospitals should organise similar conferences to improve their doctors’ skills.

Over 250 scientific papers on general surgery, cardiac surgery and oncology were presented at the conference.

It also underlined the growing partnership between hospitals and universities. — VNS