Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan - Deputy Minister of Health said that putting the second facility of the two Hospitals Bach Mai and Viet Duc Friendship Hospital into operation on schedule is not only a professional requirement but also a political responsibility of the entire industry. The two hospitals continue to complete the project and operating regulations, while increasing the recruitment of high-quality medical staff, "not reducing quality for quantity".
In Notice No. 537/TB-VPCP dated October 5, 2025 of the Government Office conveying the conclusion of Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long on the implementation of the two projects to build the facilities of Viet Duc and Bach Mai Friendship Hospitals 2, according to the announcement, the construction progress at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital reached 90-95%, while Bach Mai Hospital reached 80-99% of the workload. Despite the changes, both projects are still behind schedule, with construction manpower only reaching 30-70% of the requirements.
Many technical and management problems have not been completely resolved such as adjusting estimates, changing designs, synchronizing hospital management software, equipment procurement processes and updating fire prevention and fighting standards. After more than 10 years, some equipment has become outdated or damaged, no longer meeting practical requirements. The coordination between agencies is still prolonged, while solutions have not been vigorously implemented, causing the two projects to face many challenges before the handover and operation.
Facility 2 of Viet Duc and Bach Mai Friendship Hospitals in Ninh Binh both has a scale of 1,000 beds.
As of October 18, representatives of the two hospitals have pointed out many difficulties and problems in the implementation process, especially related to progress, personnel, specific financial mechanisms, information technology infrastructure and medical equipment.
Most of the equipment in the project's procurement list is specialized machinery, highly specific and not popular in the market. However, because the project has lasted for more than 10 years, many equipment categories are now outdated and no longer suitable for the system in use at the hospital. Therefore, the recommended units are updated and adjusted the list to ensure consistency, efficiency and meet professional requirements in the new operating period.
Currently, units under the Ministry are discussing solutions to remove difficulties, focusing on essential items such as: Surgery room system, RO water for dialysis, information technology, personnel autonomy mechanism, and equipment appraisal process. The issue of health insurance payment is also of concern to ensure smooth operation as soon as facility 2 officially opens.
Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Xuan Co - Director of Bach Mai Hospital - said that the hospital is making efforts to improve personnel, operating procedures and update the list of medical equipment according to new standards, with the goal of creating a modern and effective medical examination and treatment environment for people.
The Ministry of Health assigned the Department of Planning and Finance to review and propose appropriate separate financial mechanisms for the two projects, and at the same time coordinate with the Vietnam Railway Authority to facilitate the means of transportation for the medical team.
The Project Management Board is required to increase human resources, regularly urge contractors to speed up the installation, transportation and construction of equipment, considering this a key and urgent task of the entire health sector.
