On December 5, Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital organized the Ho Chi Minh City Cancer Prevention Conference.
According to Global 2022 data just released in early March 2024, there are 19.9 million people with cancer worldwide with 9.7 million deaths.
In Vietnam, each year there are more than 180,000 new cancer cases and 120,000 cancer deaths. Cancer is the second leading cause of premature death in Vietnam, after cardiovascular disease.
At Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital alone, in 2024, the hospital received more than 880,000 patient visits. The number of new cases in 2024 is estimated at more than 41,000, of which thyroid cancer accounts for the highest rate, at 23%.
According to Dr. Diep Bao Tuan - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, the number of patients coming to the second facility has increased significantly.
Currently, the hospital receives 4,000-4,900 patients every day, of which about 1,000 patients request specialized examinations such as radiotherapy and internal medicine.
Notably, the number of patients coming from other provinces and cities for examination has increased sharply. Previously, about 75% of patients were from other provinces, now this number has increased to 80-81%, with many patients coming from distant provinces such as Binh Phuoc, Dak Lak, or Khanh Hoa.
Faced with the overload situation, Ho Chi Minh City is making efforts to increase human resources and expand facilities to be able to receive patients more thoughtfully.
However, due to the large number of patients coming for examination, patients still have to wait, although the hospital has tried to improve the registration process, appointment scheduling via hotline, and online support services.
Ho Chi Minh City is also coordinating with cancer hospitals in the provinces to increase treatment capacity and reduce the burden on medical facilities in the city. The goal is not only to reduce pressure on end-line hospitals but also to improve the quality of treatment at lower-level hospitals, helping people access better health care services.
Speaking at the workshop, Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Nguyen Anh Dung - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health - said that cancer is currently one of the biggest challenges for the global health system; in Vietnam, the rate of new cases and deaths from cancer is on the rise. This requires us to not only focus on treatment but also on prevention, early detection, and palliative care.
This year's Cancer Prevention Conference has become a prestigious forum, attracting the participation of more than 1,500 delegates, along with more than 100 reports, including many reports from international experts.
