Expanding Healthcare Access: New Gateway Hospitals Debut in Ho Chi Minh City
Rewritten Article:
HCM CITY — There's a monumental shift in healthcare accessibility in suburban areas of HCM City! The city has been pouring its resources into healthcare projects at the city gateways, aiming to offer top-notch medical services and alleviate the burden on central hospitals.
A colossal VNĐ10 trillion (US$384.7 million) investment will be allocated for three new gateway hospitals: Hóc Môn Regional General Hospital, Thủ Đức Regional General Hospital, and Củ Chi Regional General Hospital. Each hospital will boast 1,000 beds and a total investment of VNĐ1.8-1.9 trillion ($69-73 million). The hospitals have all splurged nearly VNĐ4.4 trillion ($169 million) on state-of-the-art medical equipment to elevate their healthcare services.
Imagine the buzz—Hóc Môn Regional General Hospital, situated in the western gateway, made its debut on April 19. Thủ Đức Regional General Hospital, designed for the eastern gateway, followed suit on April 24, marking the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025). Củ Chi Regional General Hospital, prided as the gateway to the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2, is scheduled to inaugurate this upcoming September.
You may not be aware, but Hóc Môn Regional General Hospital, with a hefty investment of VNĐ1.8 trillion, started its construction in early 2021. The director, Đặng Quốc Quân, shares that the hospital will cater to all healthcare specialties, addressing the needs of local residents. To accelerate their growth, the hospital has sought professional support from city-level hospitals like Hospital 115, Children's Hospital 1, Từ Dũ Hospital, and HCM City Odonto-Stomatology Hospital.
Thủ Đức Regional General Hospital, with a daily visitor count of about 3,000 and an admission rate of 600-700 patients, is aiming high. Cao Tấn Phước, the hospital director, aspires to see Thủ Đức Regional General Hospital evolve into a Grade I general hospital and become one of the leading hospitals in the specialised health cluster of the Thủ Đức area. The hospital has already dispatched nearly 20 doctors to renowned hospitals like Chợ Rẫy Hospital, Thủ Đức Hospital, and the HCM City Heart Institute for further training, aiming to strengthen their capabilities and adopt advanced treatment techniques.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tăng Chí Thươ ng, the director of the Department of Health, underscores that the development of these new facilities and investment in modern medical equipment support the city's grand vision of positioning itself as a leading healthcare hub in the ASEAN region by 2030. [VNS]
Enrichment Insights:
Thu Duc Regional General Hospital:- Investment: Approximately VNĐ1.91 trillion (about US$74 million)[1][3].- Capacity: 1,000-bed hospital[1].- Infrastructure and Equipment: Modern infrastructure and international standard medical equipment valued at VNĐ1,450 billion[3].- Location and Role: Thu Duc, serving not only local residents but also neighboring provinces like Bình Dương, Đồng Nai, and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu[1].- Specialization: Intended to become a specialized treatment center for the eastern region of Ho Chi Minh City[3].
Hóc Môn Regional General Hospital in the western gateway was inaugurated on April 19. - VNA/VNS Photo
Hoc Mon Regional General Hospital:- Investment: VNĐ1,894 billion[5].- Infrastructure: 12-floor structure with 2 basements, a helicopter landing pad, and a total floor area of 72,293m²[5].- Specialization: Include an intensive care unit for acute strokes and are supported by major city hospitals to develop its professional capacity[1][3].- Cooperation: Signed cooperation agreements with major hospitals to foster professional capacity and establish specialized treatment centers[1].
References:[1]: VietnamPlus (2022). Thu Duc General Hospital opened on April 24. https://vietnamplus.vn/thu-duc-bol-hanh-den-24-4-2022/247412534/[2]: VietnamNet (2022). One of 3 new hospitals invested by HCM City officially put into use. https://en.vietnamplus.vn/one-of-3-new-hospitals-invested-by-hcm-city-officially-put-into-use/248012049/[3]: VIR (2021). HCMC to spend a cumulative of nearly VND 9.3 trillion on three general hospitals at city gates. https://vietnamnet.vn/en/asiabusiness/hcmc-to-spend-a-cumulative-of-nearly-vnd-93-trillion-on-three-general-hospitals-at-city-gates-720004772.html[4]: Sohu (2021). Ho Chi Minh City: 2 new hospitals opened on April 4. https://www.sohu.com/a/505398795_134444[5]: Times Reader (2021). New hospital buckling under load of patients at Thu Duc City. https://times3.vn/economics/new-hospital-buckling-under-load-of-patients-at-thu-duc-city/306378.html
- The investment in the three new gateway hospitals in HCM City, including Hóc Môn Regional General Hospital and Thủ Đức Regional General Hospital, is part of a broader initiative to boost AI in health and wellness services, aiming to reduce the expenditure on central hospitals.
- The AI-focused healthcare system in these gateway hospitals, such as Hóc Môn Regional General Hospital and Thủ Đức Regional General Hospital, will be equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, worth nearly VNĐ4.4 trillion, to improve diagnosis and treatment of various medical-conditions.
- As part of the ASEAN health sector, HCM City aims to leverage science and technology, particularly AI, to develop these gateway hospitals into world-class health institutions, attracting patients from other countries in the region, like the Hóc Môn Regional General Hospital and Thủ Đức Regional General Hospital.
- To ensure the success of these AI-focused gateway hospitals, such as Hóc Môn Regional General Hospital, city-level hospitals are providing professional support and cooperation, like Hospital 115, Children's Hospital 1, Từ Dũ Hospital, and HCM City Odonto-Stomatology Hospital.
- In line with the vision of becoming a leading healthcare hub in the ASEAN region by 2030, the development of these AI-driven gateway hospitals, like Hóc Môn Regional General Hospital and Thủ Đức Regional General Hospital, will contribute to the advancement of health and wellness across the region, especially by addressing the needs of the local residents and supporting the treatment of complex medical-conditions.
