Dong Nai prioritizes developing stroke treatment network

On April 21, Dong Nai Department of Health (DoH) held a scientific workshop on developing a stroke treatment network in the province.

The event drew the participation of leading experts in the field, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Thang, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Stroke Association; Dr. Dao Viet Phuong, Deputy Director of the Stroke Center at Bach Mai Hospital; and Dr. Nguyen Duy Long, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City 115 Emergency Center.

Director of the DoH Do Thi Nguyen presents flowers to experts, speakers and organizing units. Photo: Hanh Dung

Speaking at the workshop, Director of the DoH Do Thi Nguyen said that stroke is currently one of the leading causes of death and disability, with an increasingly younger trend. In Vietnam, about 200,000 new cases are recorded each year, of which 7.2% are patients under the age of 45.

In Dong Nai, in 2025 alone, five hospitals admitted more than 4,000 stroke patients. Although local healthcare facilities have mastered many advanced techniques such as thrombolysis and endovascular intervention, a major concern is that up to 80% of patients arrive at hospitals late. Only around 8% receive timely thrombolytic treatment, while most patients are transported by private means instead of emergency services.

These figures indicate that no single healthcare facility can independently address the challenges posed by stroke. Rather, effective treatment outcomes require close coordination across all levels of healthcare, from the community to specialized medical centers. Therefore, building an integrated and efficient stroke treatment network has become an urgent priority.

Enhanced inter-hospital cooperation will help standardize professional procedures, shorten emergency response and patient transfer times, improve consultation and referral efficiency, and expand training as well as technology transfer. Ultimately, these efforts aim to ensure that stroke patients can access optimal treatment and return to normal life.

Director of the DoH Do Thi Nguyen speaks at the workshop. Photo: Hanh Dung

Looking ahead, Dong Nai health sector will continue to develop a multi-tiered, interconnected stroke treatment network, ranging from grassroots healthcare to specialized treatment centers. Efforts will also focus on improving the effectiveness of the out-of-hospital emergency system.

In parallel, greater emphasis will be placed on training and technology transfer, with the goal that by 2030, all public healthcare units under the Department of Health will have dedicated departments or units for stroke treatment.

Notably, communication efforts will be further strengthened to raise public awareness about stroke, including first-aid responses and how to ensure patients are transported to appropriate treatment facilities without losing the “golden time” for intervention.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Thang, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Stroke Association, speaks at the workshop. Photo: Hanh Dung

Dr. Dao Viet Phuong, Deputy Director of the Stroke Center at Bach Mai Hospital, presents on stroke treatment networks in northern provinces. Photo: Hanh Dung

Specialist Level II Doctor Nguyen Dinh Quang, Head of the Neurology Department at Dong Nai General Hospital, delivers his presentation. Photo: Hanh Dung

At the workshop, leading experts from Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Dong Nai delivered a range of in-depth presentations, covering topics such as the development of stroke networks in Northern provinces, patient referral patterns at Dong Nai General Hospital and Thong Nhat General Hospital, the operational model of the Ho Chi Minh City 115 Emergency Center, and plans for building a stroke treatment network in Dong Nai.

By H. Dung – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha