Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long has urged stakeholders to shorten the construction timeline for the second campuses of Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc Hospital by at least one month, local media reported.
Deputy PM Long made the request on February 19 during a working session with a government delegation on mechanisms and solutions to address difficulties in the projects.
To expedite operations and avoid waste, the Ministry of Health is pressing investors, contractors, hospital management, and relevant agencies to finalize contract adjustments, resume construction, and procure and install medical equipment. The ministry aims to complete both projects by 2025.
According to the project management board, general contractors have committed to meeting deadlines, with Bach Mai’s second campus expected to be fully constructed and equipped by August 15, and Viet Duc’s second campus set to complete structural work by October 15. The board will review and submit an updated equipment list to the Ministry of Health in March to proceed with the bidding process.
Earlier on February 13, the government issued Resolution 34, outlining solutions to overcome obstacles in both projects. The Ministry of Health promptly issued an implementation plan detailing tasks, deadlines, and agency responsibilities. A task force, led by ministry officials, has also been established to oversee execution.
The second campus of Bach Mai Hospital spans nearly 120,000 square meters and has 1,000 beds, with a total investment of VND4.99 trillion ($207.92 million), including VND4.5 trillion from the state budget. Viet Duc’s second campus covers 118,000 square meters, with 1,000 beds and a state investment of VND4.5 trillion.
While outpatient facilities for both hospitals were completed in October 2018, Bach Mai’s second campus only operated briefly from March 2019 to March 2020 before suspending services. Viet Duc’s second campus has yet to receive any patients. (Hanoi Moi, Lao Dong, Health Ministry, Dan Tri, VietnamNet)