Hanoi has enough advantages to develop medical tourism
On the afternoon of July 3, the Hanoi Department of Health coordinated with Hanoi Oncology Hospital to organize a seminar with the theme "Developing Hanoi medical tourism: From policies to practical implementation".
Sharing at the conference, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hung, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Health, emphasized that medical tourism has long become a "gold mine" bringing very high added value to countries such as Japan, Korea, Thailand or Singapore. Hanoi can completely do so when it possesses particularly high special advantages that few localities can match.
Mr. Hung affirmed that Hanoi is the largest medical center in the country, a place that gathers all the quintessence of Vietnamese medicine from key techniques such as organ transplantation, cardiology, oncology, reproductive support to rehabilitation and traditional medicine. This is a priceless resource not only serving people's health care but also a solid launching pad for the development of the medical tourism industry.
To realize the aspiration to make Hanoi a high-quality medical tourism center of Southeast Asia, Mr. Hung believes that there are 5 key orientations to be implemented in the coming time.
First, create unity and close connection of a network including central hospitals, ministerial and sectoral hospitals, public and private healthcare, and high-tech general clinics in the area into a professional force bloc.
Second, packaging core strength products such as tumors, cardiovascular disease, dentistry, cosmetic surgery, stem cells and traditional medicine combined with high-quality nursing to increase international trade competitiveness.
Third, accelerate comprehensive digital transformation through the deployment of smart hospitals, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and universal electronic health records to create smooth and convenient experiences for both international tourists and overseas Vietnamese.
Fourth, build a close inter-sectoral ecosystem between hospitals and travel, aviation, hotel accommodation, insurance and international translation services units to create a professional closed supply chain.
Fifth, build a communication strategy, systematically promote the brand "Hanoi - high-quality medical center" to the international market.
Towards keeping foreign currency flow of 2-3 billion USD per year
Dr. Duong Huy Luong, Deputy Director of Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department (Ministry of Health) said that Hanoi needs to soon concretize the health tourism development program; gradually build criteria for establishments that meet the conditions to serve international patients; remove obstacles in price mechanisms, autonomy and international insurance payments according to authority...
At the same time, there is a policy to support hospitals to build a roadmap to meet the Ministry of Improved Quality Standards and gradually achieve international certification; prioritizing specialties with strengths and potentials: oncology, cardiology, dentistry, reproductive support and traditional medicine. Building and standardizing medical tourism product packages according to the patient journey associated with the actual capacity of the Capital; establishing strategic links with travel businesses, accommodation establishments and transportation units; promoting the target market, gradually retaining the foreign currency flow of 2 - 3 billion USD/year.
In particular, it is necessary to form a focal point for coordinating medical tourism of the City, connecting with the national inter-sectoral coordination mechanism; building and updating data on foreign patients for management and evaluation; developing professional human resources and language support and coordination human resources...
