Delegates attend the international conference “Universal Healthcare in a New Era: The Role of Family Medicine” in Hà Nội. — Photo courtesy of Hà Nội Medical University

HÀ NỘI - Hà Nội Medical University, in collaboration with the Wallonia-Brussels Federation of Belgium, held an international conference on October 29 to discuss the role of family medicine in strengthening primary healthcare, marking the 30th anniversary of cooperation between Việt Nam and Wallonia-Brussels.

The two-day conference, themed “Universal Healthcare in a New Era: The Role of Family Medicine”, brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, representatives of medical training institutions and healthcare providers from Việt Nam and abroad to share experience and discuss ways to advance family medicine and improve the quality of primary healthcare nationwide.

Family medicine key to strengthening primary healthcare

As Việt Nam steps up its shift from a treatment-oriented approach towards greater emphasis on disease prevention, in line with Politburo Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW and the National Target Programme on Healthcare, Population and Development for 2026–2035, family medicine has been identified as a key pillar in strengthening grassroots healthcare and improving primary healthcare services.

The model also aims to ensure continuous health monitoring and management for people in their communities.

The family doctor model provides comprehensive, continuous and patient-centred care, while playing an important role in managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, as well as health conditions associated with population ageing.

Through training, research and international cooperation, Hà Nội Medical University, together with medical training institutions and the Vietnam Association of Family Physicians, is working to standardise professional competencies, develop a highly qualified healthcare workforce and expand the family doctor network nationwide.

The conference provided a platform for experts from Việt Nam, Belgium and domestic and international academic and healthcare organisations to share expertise and discuss policy measures to advance family medicine and strengthen the healthcare system.

Over the two days, delegates focused on policies to promote family medicine, competency-based medical training in line with international standards, improving capacity to manage NCDs at the primary healthcare level, digital transformation and community-based care models for older people and patients with chronic diseases.

The event also facilitated dialogue among policymakers, training institutions, healthcare providers and domestic and international experts.

Working with the Vietnam Association of Family Physicians, the Vietnam National Heart Association, the Vietnam Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology, the Vietnam Respiratory Society and other relevant professional associations, the organisers also sought to put forward recommendations to the Ministry of Health on clinical practice guidelines for grassroots healthcare facilities. The proposed guidelines are intended to be practical, easy to implement and suitable for nationwide application.

Addressing the conference, Dương Huy Lương, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management under the Ministry of Health, said developing family medicine did not mean establishing an additional tier in the healthcare system. Rather, it involved changing the way medical examination and treatment services are delivered to ensure more comprehensive, continuous and people-centred care.

Dương Huy Lương, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, addresses the conference. — Photo courtesy of Hà Nội Medical University

He stressed the need to make better use of the existing healthcare network, accelerate digital transformation and strengthen the role of family doctors in managing and coordinating healthcare services, while promoting early disease prevention and proactive health management at the community level.

These efforts would help improve primary healthcare, ensure continuity of treatment and ease pressure on higher-level hospitals, he said.

Strategic partnership to strengthen NCD management at grassroots level

As part of the conference, Hà Nội Medical University and Servier Vietnam Co., Ltd. signed a strategic framework agreement to implement the AS ONE programme for 2026–2030, focusing on strengthening the management of hypertension and diabetes at grassroots healthcare facilities.

The agreement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed on July 3, 2026, by the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Hà Nội Medical University, Servier and national strategic partners.

Professor Nguyễn Hữu Tú, Rector of Hà Nội Medical University, and Aymeric Menard, General Director of Servier Vietnam, attend the MoU signing ceremony. — Photo courtesy of Hà Nội Medical University

The cooperation aims to raise public awareness and strengthen capacity in communication, treatment and management of hypertension and diabetes in Việt Nam.

Under the AS ONE programme, the partners aim to ensure that by 2030 more than 50 per cent of patients receiving treatment have their conditions under control in line with professional medical recommendations.

The programme will focus on strengthening the capacity of grassroots healthcare workers, standardising online training for nurses and researching integrated, continuous and patient-centred models for managing hypertension and diabetes across different levels of the healthcare system. It will also step up community-based health screening, counselling and health management activities.

The agreement reflects the partners' shared commitment to improving the management of NCDs at the grassroots level and building a more effective, sustainable and equitable primary healthcare system for people across Việt Nam.-VNS