International cooperation strengthens Hai Phong's healthcare capacity
International cooperation has opened up new opportunities for Hai Phong's health sector to access advanced medical techniques, develop its workforce and improve the quality of medical examination and treatment.
Expanding cooperation and adopting new techniques
In September 2026, Viet Tiep Hospital and Hai Duong General Hospital, in coordination with Hai Duong Medical Technical University, held professional exchanges with a delegation of experts from Japan's National College of Nursing on palliative care. Discussions focused on nursing training, clinical teaching and development of training programs suited to practical needs.
Viet Tiep Hospital has also worked with experts from FORCE Japan on post-trauma rehabilitation, aiming to adopt modern treatment methods and strengthen professional exchanges.
On June 15, 2026, Hai Phong International Hospital System and the France-Vietnam Pulmonary Association signed a cooperation agreement covering workforce training, scientific research, expert exchanges and updates on techniques in respiration, immunology and allergy, and sleep medicine. The agreement will enable healthcare workers to access specialized knowledge, conduct research and scientific seminars, and transfer technologies.
According to Dr Pham Thu Xanh, Specialist Level II, Deputy General Director of Hang Kenh Corporation and Chairwoman of the Executive Board of the International Hospital System, cooperation serves as a driving force for training, scientific research, technology transfer and international integration. The goal is to gradually develop capacity in training, research and clinical practice, enabling local residents to access medical advances right in Hai Phong.
Mobilizing resources and improving healthcare quality
International cooperation is not limited to partnerships between hospitals. It is also being carried out at the healthcare management level, in line with the need to develop the healthcare system and improve community health.
Under the project "Human Resource Training for Developing an Advanced Health Checkup Program to Support Health Behavior Changes among Hai Phong Residents," funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Hai Phong Center for Disease Control is working with Hirosaki University of Japan to provide specialized training and transfer the Quality of Life Health Checkup (QOLHC) model.
International cooperation programs such as FIND, the Global Fund and EPIC have helped expand cervical cancer screening, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C prevention and treatment, and testing and treatment support for high-risk and vulnerable groups. Through these projects, particularly JICA, healthcare workers have received specialized training and gained access to healthcare models that prioritize disease prevention and improved quality of life.
According to the Department of Health, in 2026 Hai Phong has continued to expand its partnerships with organizations and partners from France, Italy, South Korea, China and Japan, as well as international organizations. Hai Phong Eye Hospital worked with experts from a hospital affiliated with Yunnan University in China to organize the "Journey of Light" program, providing free cataract surgery for 100 disadvantaged residents. The city also launched the "Enhancing School Eye Care Capacity" project, funded by Orbis International under Decision No. 1749/QD-UBND dated May 9, 2026.
Cooperation programs with Rouen University Hospital in the Normandy region of France on obstetric emergencies and the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage; with the Asia Prevention of Blindness Association on ophthalmology; and with French partners on research into HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and emerging infectious diseases continue to provide additional expertise resources for the sector.
Expanding cooperation only creates value when knowledge is translated into professional capacity, medical techniques are applied safely and patients benefit directly. Associating social resources with international partnerships in this way will help Hai Phong improve the quality of its healthcare system, broaden access to specialized services and better meet the public's healthcare needs.
HAI THANH