Pressure pours on end-line hospitals
After 1.5 months of treatment at the hospital, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thinh (character name has been changed - 53 years old, Lam Dong) is eagerly waiting for the day to be discharged and return home. Ms. Thinh unfortunately suffered from cervical cancer. Although the disease was detected at an early stage, doctors prescribed radiation therapy to control the disease and limit the risk of progression.
Living far away, traveling many times for treatment is not without difficulties, so Ms. Thinh asked to stay as a resident at Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital: "At radiation therapy, I have to wait about 3 weeks to be performed. Although I have to wait a long time, as long as the disease is stable and treated, I will still try.
Every day, Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital receives about 4,800-5,000 patient visits for examination and treatment. Of which, about 650-700 chemotherapy patients and 750-800 radiation therapy patients.
BS.CKII Vo Hong Minh Phuoc - Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital - said that the current number of patients is high, creating great pressure on the reception and treatment system. Notably, about 75% of patients coming for examination and treatment at the hospital come from provinces and cities outside the region. The number of patients from localities flocking to end-line hospitals continues to be high.
At the Department of Gynecology Radiation Therapy, Dr. Tran Dang Ngoc Linh - Head of the Department - said that the hospital currently provides radiation therapy to more than 700 patients every day. The treatment demand increases year by year, while the capacity is not enough. Currently, the need for radiation therapy is exceeding the capacity. The machines must operate in 3 shifts, from 5 am to 11 pm every day.
At facility 1, there are currently 5 radiation therapy machines, one of which is old and is being planned for replacement; facility 2 has 6 machines.Although operating up to 6 hours/day, the hospital still does not meet the demand.
Currently, about 800-1,000 patients are waiting for radiation therapy in 3 departments.Waiting time depends on pathology, technique and registration schedule; some cases may wait 3-5 weeks, high-tech may take longer.
Vietnam records more than 182,000 new cancer cases each year
According to Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health), although the cancer treatment network is developing rapidly, screening is still limited, causing many patients to be detected at a late stage, reducing the opportunity for effective treatment. Each year, Vietnam records more than 182,000 new cancer cases, creating great pressure on the medical examination and treatment system.
The whole country currently has about 10 specialized cancer hospitals and dozens of satellite cancer centers and departments. However, pressure is still concentrated at some final-line facilities such as K Hospital (Hanoi), Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, requiring continued expansion of facilities, human resources and professional capacity.
According to Dr. Ha Anh Duc, hospital overload has decreased significantly compared to about 10 years ago. Overload currently mainly occurs locally at some hospitals and specialties with high demand. This result is thanks to improving the capacity of lower levels, investing in facilities, training human resources and promoting technical transfer. The Ministry of Health continues to implement solutions to strengthen grassroots healthcare, reducing pressure on upper-level hospitals.
Increase the capacity of lower levels, reduce the burden of specialized levels
In recent years, the Ministry of Health has implemented many programs to improve the capacity of lower levels, reducing hospital overload. Projects such as 1816, Reducing hospital overload and Satellite Hospitals have supported technical transfer, bringing many treatment methods to localities. Thanks to that, many lower-level hospitals have gradually mastered specialized techniques, reduced referrals and expanded treatment opportunities for patients right at their place of residence.
Some localities such as Hue, Da Nang, and Nghe An have invested in synchronous and modern general and specialized hospital systems. Directing tuyến, training, professional support and technology transfer have been strengthened, helping to expand the technical portfolio at many local health facilities.
From 2025, the medical examination and treatment system will be organized according to three levels of technical expertise: Initial, basic and specialized, aiming to bring patients to the right level of treatment, increase inter-agency communication and reduce pressure on upper levels.
The Ministry of Health also continues to promote training, human resource rotation, technology transfer and remote medical examination and treatment. The network has connected more than 1,500 medical facilities, supported consultations for difficult cases and limited unnecessary referrals.
According to the Project on developing a network of satellite hospitals in the period 2026-2030, it is expected to have 54 nuclear hospitals and about 200 satellite hospitals, focusing on specialties with high transfer needs.
Strengthening grassroots healthcare, ensuring resources
The Ministry of Health orients to consolidate commune health stations to provide primary health care services, disease prevention and basic medical examination and treatment. The health sector sets a target for each province and city to have at least one hospital reaching specialized level, thereby reducing the situation of patients concentrating in some central-level hospitals.
Investment programs in the 2026-2035 period also prioritize upgrading facilities, equipment and grassroots health capacity, especially in remote, isolated, border and island areas.
Regarding human resources, the program to bring young doctors to difficult areas has received and trained 886 specialist doctors level I for mountainous, border and island areas. In the coming period, the health sector aims to continue training specialist doctors for grassroots levels, including supporting training at least 500 doctors at health stations, health centers and regional hospitals.
The Ministry of Health is also developing a Project on developing high-quality medical human resources for the period 2026-2035, with orientations to 2045, expected to be submitted to competent authorities in the third quarter of 2026. This is considered one of the solutions to improve the quality of treatment in localities, reduce pressure on specialized levels and increase access to health services for people.
