The National Otorhinolaryngology Hospital works with hospitals in Dong Nai

On the afternoon of October 15, a working delegation from the National Otorhinolaryngology Hospital (NOH), led by Associate Professor Dr. Pham Tuan Canh, the hospital’s Director, visited and held a working session at Thong Nhat General Hospital.

Nguyen Tuong Quang, Deputy Director in charge of Thong Nhat General Hospital, speaks at the working session. Photo: Huy Anh

Thong Nhat General Hospital is a Grade I, specialized, top-tier hospital of the province with a capacity of 1,050 beds. The hospital’s Otorhinolaryngology Department has a staff of 17 members, including 8 doctors, 8 caregivers, and 1 nursing assistant. The department has a total of 16 inpatient beds.

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Tuan Canh, Director of the NOH, speaks at the working session. Photo: Huy Anh

In terms of equipment, the department is equipped with a Karl Storz endoscopy system, an Amplivox audiometer, a Shinei suction device, and Zeiss–Leica surgical microscopes, among others.

The department has successfully performed key procedures such as endoscopic sinus surgery, endoscopic microsurgery of the larynx, tympanic membrane repair (myringoplasty), septoplasty, and many other complex ear and throat surgeries.

In 2024, the department provided examinations for more than 14,100 patients and performed 698 surgeries. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, it already conducted 514 surgeries.

A member of the working delegation from the NOH speaks at the working session. Photo: Huy Anh

As the province’s top-tier hospital, the Otorhinolaryngology Department of Thong Nhat General Hospital also serves as a trusted site for practical training and continuing education for lower-level hospitals and medical centers such as Trang Bom Regional Medical Center, Vinh Cuu Regional Medical Center, and Thong Nhat Regional Medical Center.

Nguyen Tuong Quang, Deputy Director in charge of Thong Nhat General Hospital, presents flowers to express gratitude to Associate Professor Dr. Pham Tuan Canh, Director of the NOH. Photo: Huy Anh

Alongside its advantages, Thong Nhat General Hospital still faces numerous challenges in adopting and mastering more advanced and complex medical techniques. The referral rate for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) cancer patients remains high, accounting for nearly 68% of the department’s total patient transfers in 2024.

To improve treatment quality and reduce the number of patients referred to higher-level hospitals, Thong Nhat General Hospital hopes to receive support from the NOH in transferring advanced and specialized techniques such as extended frontal sinus surgery; oropharyngeal–palatal–uvular reconstructive surgery for snoring treatment; tonsillectomy using coblation technology; ENT cosmetic surgery; and the development of a comprehensive audiology unit.

Delegates take a souvenir photo after the working session. Photo: Huy Anh

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Tuan Canh highly appreciated the achievements of the Otorhinolaryngology Department at Thong Nhat General Hospital in recent years. He also suggested that the hospital continue enhancing staff training, noting that while its equipment is already in good condition, further upgrades are still needed. The NOH stands ready to provide professional support and transfer advanced techniques as requested by Thong Nhat General Hospital, thereby improving the quality of ENT examination and treatment at the facility.

The NOH delegation also highly appreciated the strong commitment and decisive direction of the leaders of Dong Nai province and the leaders of the Dong Nai Department of Health. This support provides favorable conditions for the hospital to transfer advanced medical techniques to hospitals across Dong Nai province in the near future.

The working delegation from the NOH visits and surveys the otorhinolaryngology examination and treatment activities at Thong Nhat General Hospital. Photo: Huy Anh

The working delegation conducts a field visit to observe otorhinolaryngology examination and treatment activities at Thong Nhat General Hospital. Photo: Huy Anh

* Earlier the same morning, the working delegation from the NOH visited, surveyed, and worked with Long Khanh Regional General Hospital.

The working delegation from the provincial Department of Health and the NOH works at Long Khanh Regional General Hospital. Photo: Hai Hieu

Nguyen Thi Lan Phuong, Specialist Doctor Level-2, Head of the General Planning Department at Long Khanh Regional General Hospital, shared that currently, three specialties still operate within a single department, encompassing outpatient clinics, surgery, and inpatient treatment. On average, the ENT outpatient clinic receives 80–100 patients daily. In terms of surgery, the hospital has successfully performed 102 procedures for ENT conditions, including tracheostomy, nasal bone lift and correction, tonsillectomy, nasal septum reconstruction, and endoscopic sinus surgery.

Regarding human resources, the department has 15 doctors and 12 caregivers. In the near future, the hospital plans to expand into more advanced techniques such as thyroglossal cyst surgery, laryngotracheal trauma management, and tympanoplasty. “To carry out these specialized procedures, we need additional equipment and staff training” - Dr. Lan Phuong noted.

The working delegation visits the ENT departments and treatment facilities of Long Khanh Regional General Hospital. Photo: Hai Hieu

At the working session, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Tuan Canh, Director of the NOH, affirmed that the hospital is ready to support Long Khanh Regional General Hospital in training medical personnel and transferring specialized techniques.

Accordingly, doctors from Long Khanh Regional General Hospital will undergo direct training at the NOH to enhance their professional skills. Following that, experts from the NOH will provide hands-on guidance and on-site technical transfer at Long Khanh Regional General Hospital through real clinical cases.

By Hanh Dung, Bich Nhan – Translated by Dang Huyen, Thu Ha