Implementing the key task program for 2026 and towards the homeland's sea and islands, from May 4 to May 10, on ship 561 of Brigade 955, Naval Region 4, the Ministry of Health delegation including 50 delegates led by Prof. Dr. BS Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, visited, worked and presented gifts to officers, soldiers and people working and living on the islands of Truong Sa archipelago and DK1 rig.
The trip aims to encourage the spirit, share difficulties with officers, soldiers and people living and performing the task of protecting the sacred sea and island sovereignty of the Fatherland; and at the same time visit and assess the current situation of the grassroots health system at islands and island points in the Truong Sa special zone, Khanh Hoa province.
Sharing about this special working trip, Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan expressed: "When we set foot on each island, we are extremely touched and proud to witness the lands that our ancestors sacrificed so much blood and bones to preserve have now become green and spacious.
We are even more touched to talk with the doctors and nurses working here and learn that many difficult and complex cases have been operated on directly on the island with support from the mainland. This shows that officers, soldiers, and people of Truong Sa have accessed modern medical techniques, and we have achieved certain successes in taking care of and protecting the health of soldiers and people on remote islands.
Although currently the work of health care and treatment in Truong Sa is undertaken by the military medical force, however, with its role, the Ministry of Health also regularly actively coordinates with relevant ministries and sectors, especially the Ministry of National Defense and medical facilities of the Ministry of National Defense to shift from "case-by-case, supportive" coordination to a unified coordinated command mechanism in disaster and epidemic relief at sea. Every year, hospitals under the Ministry of Health have also organized many medical examination and treatment trips, screening, and early detection for soldiers and people on the Truong Sa archipelago.
Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan also said that island-level doctors are working with the highest spirit - both as doctors and as soldiers protecting the sacred sea and island sovereignty. The contribution of medical staff on Truong Sa archipelago is the strongest internal resource for the sea and island health system to develop sustainably.
In the coming time, the Ministry of Health will advise the Government to complete the legal framework on specific preferential treatment regimes for health forces participating in work on islands.
We hope that no doctor who contributes to the sea and islands will be disadvantaged in terms of career development roadmap. The mainland will always be the most solid and fair rear for doctors outside the frontline islands" - Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan emphasized.
In 6 days, the Ministry of Health delegation visited and presented gifts to 7 islands in the Truong Sa archipelago, Khanh Hoa province, including: Song Tu Tay, Nam Yet, Da Tay A, Sinh Ton Dong, Nui Le C, Tien Nu B, Truong Sa and DK1/2 Phuc Tan rig.
During the trip, the Ministry of Health delegation mobilized nearly 6 billion VND, including cash and goods to support the islands. Of which, 3.3 billion VND in cash supported medical equipment and supplies for the islands in the Truong Sa special zone.
Each island and DK1/2 Phuc Tan rig were given 1 desktop computer, 5 water purifiers, 1 receiver and VTC receiver, life jackets and many vitamins, milk, bird's nest drink, nutritional powder... 7 infirmaries of 7 islands that the delegation passed through were also supported with 50 million VND/infirmary.
The delegation also specifically supported Song Tu Tay island with a solar lighting system (similar to the solar lighting system installed on Truong Sa Lon island) worth 200 million VND; donated 10 national flags to Nui Le Island, additional machinery, equipment, antibiotics as proposed; supported Naval Region 4 with 50 million VND; supported Brigade 955 with 05 desktop computers; supported Truong Sa Border Guard Station with 10 million VND; donated medical equipment to Treatment Team 486 worth 85 million VND,...
