Vietnam’s Southeast Region to Establish Three-Tier Cancer Prevention Network

Health departments in Vietnam’s southeast region will develop a "regional cancer prevention network" with three levels of care to enhance cancer screening and treatment for residents, Director of Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Health Tang Chi Thuong announced.

The three levels of care include (i) primary care focusing on cancer prevention in the community, (ii) basic care aimed at setting up local medical facilities capable of comprehensive cancer diagnosis and treatment, and (iii) specialized care which invests in modern equipment and standardized oncology workforce

Local authorities agreed on a draft cooperation agreement consisting of two levels. At the first level, cooperation will continue to enhance technical support from top-tier hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City to meet the development needs of each local hospital. At the second level, regions will develop a health care network specializing in oncology, from specialized hospitals to primary care facilities. This collaboration aims to improve treatment effectiveness, reduce mortality rates, and enhance the quality of life for cancer patients.

Associate Professor Dr. Dam Van Cuong, director of Nam Can Tho University Hospital, cited data from the 2022 International Cancer Prevention Conference in Hanoi as indicating that Vietnam had the second-highest cancer incidence globally. Each year, Vietnam is estimated to record 200,000 new cancer cases, with 82,000 deaths. The cancer mortality rate in Vietnam stands at 73.5%, compared to the global average of 59.7% and 67.9% in developing countries.

(VnExpress, Tuoi Tre, Thanh Nien, HCM CPV, baoangiang.com.vn, ttbc-hcm.gov.vn)