Leaders from the Ministry of Health and three major hospitals in HCM City – Chợ Rẫy Hospital, Thống Nhất Hospital, and Military Hospital 175 – discussed the coordination of emergency response and healthcare services during the April 30 holiday at a meeting held on Monday. Photo courtesy of Chợ Rẫy Hospital

HCM CITY — Three major hospitals in HCM City have coordinated to provide emergency care and healthcare services during the April 30 holiday, especially for the parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of national reunification.

The Ministry of Health’s Office in HCM City and three major hospitals in the city – Chợ Rẫy Hospital, Thống Nhất Hospital, and Military Hospital 175 – on Monday held a meeting to plan for coordination of emergency response and healthcare services during the anniversary.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Tri Thức said a coordinating committee consisting of Chợ Rẫy Hospital, Thống Nhất Hospital, Military Hospital 175, and the Central Health Protection Board has been established to ensure medical services for the parade on the morning of April 30.

The three hospitals will collaborate with the city’s Department of Health to ensure that emergency response and healthcare services are delivered effectively throughout the event, said Thức, who is in charge of managing Chợ Rẫy Hospital.

Given that the weather is hot, potential illnesses such as heat shock, hypoglycemia, and low blood pressure must be given attention, he said.

Major General Trần Quốc Việt, director of Military Hospital 175, emphasised the importance of emergency response and healthcare services during the anniversary.

He said that his hospital is ready for healthcare operations for the parade as instructed by the Ministry of Defense.

Dr. Phạm Thanh Việt, deputy director of Chợ Rẫy Hospital, said his hospital has arranged reception, emergency, and treatment rooms as well as established ambulance teams and emergency response teams as directed by the Ministry of Health.

It has been preparing infrastructure, equipment, personnel, drugs, medical supplies, and blood since March to ensure medical services for the five-day celebration of the April 30 holiday, Việt said.

The hospital has set up some areas for emergencies, and each area is equipped with 15 to 20 beds, he said.

Two teams of ambulances will rotate in case of emergencies, he said.

The hospital normally uses around 1,000 blood units daily, and for the upcoming holiday it must prepare up to 8,000 blood units to fully anticipate emergency situations, he said.

He said that the emergency teams consist of highly skilled medical professionals in head of department and deputy head positions.

Assoc. Prof. Lê Đình Thanh, director of Thống Nhất Hospital, said thorough preparations are required for situations such as mass emergencies, disaster response, radiation emergencies, and chemical incidents.

The three hospitals have made preparations for personnel and resources for these emergency situations, he said.

Medical teams from Thống Nhất Hospital will be positioned in crucial areas during the holiday celebrations, he added. — VNS