Investing in accelerator radiotherapy machines
Lao Dong Newspaper recently published a series of articles On the long-term consequences of the abandoned trillion-dollar oncology hospital project, currently, the radiation therapy department (Can Tho City Oncology Hospital) is equipped with only one Cobalt 60 radiotherapy machine. This outdated machine was exploited at too much capacity and was often damaged.
Regarding the above content, in an official dispatch responding to Lao Dong newspaper, the Can Tho Department of Finance informed that currently, the Linear Acceleration Machinery Investment Project (LINACS) at Can Tho City Oncology Hospital has been approved by the Can Tho City People's Committee for investment in Decision No. 692/QD-UBND dated March 19, 2025. The project implementation period is 2025-2026.
The Department of Finance has advised the People's Committee of Can Tho City to submit to the City People's Council to allocate the medium-term public investment capital plan for the 2021-2025 period to the project. When the competent authority is allocated to prepare investment for the project, the Department of Health will select the contractor to prepare a feasibility study report in accordance with the Law on Public Investment, submit to the competent authority for approval of the project as a basis for implementing the next steps.
"It is expected to implement the selection of contractors to supply and install equipment in 2025 and put it into use in the first quarter of 2026" - the document stated.
Time to use the new hospital
Can Tho Department of Finance further informed that the Can Tho City Oncology Hospital Construction Investment Project (scale of 500 beds) has been stalled for many years due to the impact of the epidemic and some objective reasons, so the project implementation progress is somewhat delayed compared to the implementation plan. Can Tho has been determined to coordinate to remove difficulties and obstacles to continue implementing the project.
When the disease is under control, the loan agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Hungarian Import and Export Bank has expired, but the two sides have not been able to agree on the measure of handling according to the content of the Ministry of Commerce and Trade of Hungary to the Ministry of Finance related to the Can Tho Cancer Hospital project. Therefore, Can Tho is proposing to be arranged from the domestic capital for the remaining ODA capital of the project that has not been disbursed, to continue implementing the project.
Recently, Can Tho has established a working group to support procedures for investment projects on construction of Can Tho Cancer Hospital (500 beds). Currently, the Department of Health proactively coordinates with departments and branches to continue advising the People's Committee of Can Tho City to report, ask for guidance from the ministries and central branches, urgently implement the completion of dossiers and procedures for adjusting the project investment policy as prescribed to restart the investment project on construction of Can Tho City Oncology Hospital (500 beds) when eligible.
Strive to complete and put the project into operation in 2026, meeting the needs and aspirations of the city's people and the entire Mekong Delta region in the examination and treatment of oncology.
In March 2025, when exchanging with reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper, Dr., Doctor Vo Van Kha - Director of Can Tho City Oncology Hospital - expressed great belief with the policy of combating waste of budget and human resources of the Politburo, which from the central to local levels are drastically implemented. The director said that not only the team of doctors but also people in the Mekong Delta are expected every day for the new hospital construction project to be restarted and put into use.
