Disrupted equipment and damaged machinery
The hospital started construction in 2017 with a total capital of more than VND 1,700 billion from ODA loans from the Hungarian Government and counterpart funds from the city. Due to the loan contract expiring, around 2022, the project was forced to stop construction when only over 21% of the value of the general contractor's contract for design, equipment supply, technology and construction was completed.
3 years since the unfinished state, the hospital is almost deserted, with materials and equipment left in disarray and rusted after so much time of exposure to the sun and mist.
Mr. Pham Quang Dung - Executive officer (Construction Executive Board of Can Tho City Oncology Hospital) said that in the past, the estimated damage was very heavy and could not be calculated. When construction resumed, the unit had to spend a lot of money to maintain, repair equipment, renovate and sanitize the entire wall... It was estimated that it would take billions of VND to rebuild, not to mention the source of construction materials.
"Our biggest wish for the contractor is that the Can Tho City government will coordinate with the Central Ministries and branches to soon put the project back into operation. People in the West also enjoy the best and most favorable treatment facilities, said Mr. Dung.
Urgently remove difficulties
Can Tho City Oncology Hospital currently has 2 locations: Facility 1 is on Chau Van Liem Street, Facility 2 is on Tran Binh Trong Street, both in Ninh Kieu Ward. All facilities are in a state of patient overload, which has lasted for many years.
The pressure at the hospital is increasing as the number of patients continues to increase.
"During the week, we receive about 600 - 700 patients in the city as well as neighboring provinces for examination and treatment" - MSc. Dr. CK II Huynh Minh Thien, Head of the General Planning Department of the hospital, informed.
Dr. CKII. Tran Thanh Phong - Head of the radiotherapy Department said that the department is currently only equipped with an outdated Cobalt 60 radiotherapy machine, which must operate 24/7 to serve patients. Normally, each patient has to wait 3 months to receive radiotherapy.
Previously, during a working trip to Can Tho City in October 2025, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested that the Can Tho City Oncology Hospital Construction Investment Project with a scale of 500 beds must continue and be completed in 2026.
Regarding this issue, Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Quoc Cuong, Director of Can Tho Department of Health, said that the Government has agreed and approved the policy of stopping Hungarian ODA capital, and at the same time using domestic capital to restart the Can Tho City Oncology Hospital Construction Investment Project with a scale of 500 beds.
The leader of the Department of Health added that Can Tho has merged the old Cai Rang District Medical Center and the old Phong Dien District Medical Center, headquartered in Cai Rang. Therefore, the Department of Health proposed to transfer the headquarters of the Phong Dien District Medical Center (old) from the Cai Rang Regional Medical Center to the Can Tho City Oncology Hospital for management and use. This proposal has been agreed upon by the leaders of Can Tho City. Thus, in the near future, Can Tho will complete the procedures for this Hospital to deploy additional medical examination and treatment at the Phong Dien District Medical Center (old).
Dr. Vo Van Kha, Director of Can Tho City Oncology Hospital, said that the Hospital was also approved by the Prime Minister as the center in charge of specialized oncology in the Mekong Delta. Thus, the role of the hospital will create connections and networks, specifically reducing the burden of cancer for people.
"With positive signals, we are urgently completing procedures and are ready for all work to coordinate with relevant units to carry out the next steps. The Board of Directors and the medical team accompany and encourage the patient. We really look forward to this project being restarted and put into operation as soon as possible" - Mr. Kha said.
