Dong Nai Department of Health signs comprehensive cooperation agreement with National Otorhinolaryngology Hospital

On the afternoon of October 15, Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Le Truong Son, member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; along with leaders of the Department of Health and several hospitals in Dong Nai province, welcomed and worked with a working delegation from the National Otorhinolaryngology Hospital (NOH).

Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee, presents a gift to Associate Professor Dr. Pham Tuan Canh, Director of the NOH. Photo: Huy Anh

Le Quang Trung, Specialist Doctor Level 2 and Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Health, stated that, as part of the plan to welcome and work with the working delegation from the NOH, the Department coordinated in conducting a survey of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialty activities at three hospitals, including Dong Nai General Hospital, Thong Nhat General Hospital, and Long Khanh Regional General Hospital.

Accordingly, the three hospitals have a total of 40 ENT staff, including 21 doctors, 17 caregivers, and 2 nursing assistants. The department structures are reasonably organized and basically meet routine professional requirements. However, there is still a shortage of highly qualified doctors, such as Specialists Doctors Level II and PhDs.

Leaders of Dong Nai province and the health sector pose with the delegation from the NOH. Photo: Huy Anh

To improve the quality of examination and treatment of ENT diseases, the Dong Nai Department of Health proposed additional funding to upgrade specialized equipment at provincial hospitals, as well as support for training and transferring advanced techniques to provincial and regional doctors.

Le Quang Trung, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Health, reports at the working session. Photo: Huy Anh

The Department also requested that the NOH transfer advanced ENT techniques to hospitals in the province, aiming to enhance examination and treatment quality for local residents and reduce the need for patient referrals to higher-level facilities.

Do Thi Nguyen, Director of the Dong Nai Department of Health, speaks at the working session. Photo: Huy Anh

During the meeting, leaders of three hospitals, including Dong Nai General Hospital, Thong Nhat General Hospital, and Long Khanh Regional General Hospital, proposed multiple initiatives. Among them, Ngo Duc Tuan, Specialist Doctor Level 2 and Director of Dong Nai General Hospital, suggested establishing an ENT Center under Dong Nai General Hospital.

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Tuan Canh, Director and Head of the working delegation from NOH, affirmed that the hospital is committed to training ENT personnel for hospitals in Dong Nai and is ready to transfer advanced techniques to provincial hospitals.

Do Thi Nguyen, Director of the Dong Nai Department of Health, urged the three hospitals to promptly develop a long-term plan for ENT specialty development, covering at least five years, to outline an implementation roadmap. The immediate focus should be on developing and training human resources, followed by upgrading infrastructure and medical equipment. Dong Nai General Hospital will consider establishing an ENT Center under its administration to receive advanced techniques from the NOH, which can then be transferred to lower-level hospitals.

Leaders of the Dong Nai Department of Health and NOH sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement. Photo: Huy Anh

Concluding the session, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Le Truong Son noted that after two days of working seriously, the parties achieved important results, creating a premise to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment in the coming time.

Le Truong Son, Member of the Dong Nai Party Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, presents flowers to congratulate the leaders of the two units on signing the cooperation agreement. Photo: Huy Anh

Provincial leaders expressed strong support for the proposals of the delegation, the Department of Health, and the hospitals. In the immediate term, the Department of Health will lead and coordinate with Dong Nai General Hospital to quickly develop a project for establishing an ENT Center at the hospital, submitting it to competent authorities for approval to kick-start the implementation as soon as possible.

Regarding equipment, the Department of Health is assigned to coordinate with hospitals to review lists, and complete procedures, to carry out investment as soon as possible, with priority given to 2025; if conditions are not yet met, implementation will begin in early 2026. Equipment investment should go hand in hand with staff training to maximize effectiveness.

For human resources, units are requested to carefully prepare long-term development plans aligned with the implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution No. 72, and to consider special incentive policies to attract and retain skilled doctors.

During the working session, the Dong Nai Department of Health signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement with the NOH.

By Hanh Dung - Translated by Dang Huyen, Thu Ha