A foreign patient treated at the Military Hospital 175 in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — HCM City is taking steps to elevate its healthcare services to become a medical hub of ASEAN by offering a wide range of high-quality health services for locals and foreigners, health experts said.

“Promoting HCM City as a medical hub of ASEAN is vital to reduce the number of people travelling abroad for medical care and boost medical tourism,” said Assoc. Prof. Lương Ngọc Khuê, general director of the Administration of Medical Service under the Ministry of Health.

To accomplish this goal, the health sector must focus on training high-quality human resources, foster international cooperation in education and research and promote advanced medical technologies and digital transformation to improve the quality of healthcare services, Khuê said at a seminar held last week in HCM City.

Proper investment in medical facilities and modern equipment and devices are also needed to realise the goal, according to Khuê.

Vietnamese patients spend around US$2 billion a year travelling overseas for medical treatment.

According to Dr. Nguyễn Anh Dũng, deputy director of the city’s Department of Health, with around 130 hospitals, including 12 that are top-tier, fast-growing private healthcare and high adoption of advanced technologies in healthcare establishments, the city has huge potential to elevate its healthcare services.

The city’s health sector has implemented various measures to develop its healthcare system such as capacity improvement in disease prevention and control, investment in grassroots health networks, and fostering public health and emergency services.

It has also carried out seven major tasks to become a medical hub of ASEAN, including development of modern facilities, building high-tech medical zones under the hospital-university model, adoption of top-notch specialised technologies, and promoting a network of specialised healthcare facilities.

Research and development (R&D) and innovation in the healthcare sector have also been fostered.

The city is striving to provide a comprehensive range of healthcare services to meet the demand for examinations and treatment of locals and make it an attractive destination for medical tourism. — VNS