HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Health plans to issue a health tourism handbook for domestic and foreign tourists by the end of the year.

The handbook will include names, addresses and phone numbers for healthcare services in the city.

The public and private facilities providing services to tourists must meet criteria set by the Health Department on infrastructure, human resources and procedures for health exams and treatment. 

The facilities will offer health exams and screenings, treatment with traditional medicine, and treatment of diseases related to the heart, skin, teeth, ear, nose and throat, as well as special services for women and children. 

Eleven public and private hospitals have registered to provide the services so far, including the Traditional Medicine Institute, Từ Dũ Hospital, the City Paediatrics Hospital, and Xuyên Á Hospital.

Under the plan between the department and Department of Tourism, health tourism services will be expanded to other hospitals after the initial pilot period.

The city aims to become a professional health centre for the country, meeting the demands of domestic and foreign tourists.

On October 6, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc issued a resolution on an action programme to develop tourism as one of the country’s most important industries.

As part of the programme, appropriate agencies and people’s committees in provinces and countries throughout the country will be assigned detailed tasks.

The Ministry of Health will be responsible for offering first-aid training to tour guides in emergency situations.

The ministry must co-operate with local authorities to ensure food hygiene and safety.

The ministry will also conduct research on tourism development and healthcare services using both traditional medicine and western medicine.

HCM City has a network of 25 satellite stations managed under the city’s Emergency Aid Centre that provides first aid to residents and tourists.  —VNS