Sanofi Vietnam and the National Hospital of Endocrinology signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to implement projects relating to diabetes in Hanoi on November 16.
Sanofi Vietnam and the National Hospital of Endocrinology signed a MOU to implement projects relating to diabetes on November 16 in Hanoi. (Photo courtesy of Sanofi Vietnam)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Sanofi Vietnam and theNational Hospital of Endocrinology signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU)to implement projects relating to diabetes in Hanoi on November 16.
Under the MoU, both parties will join hands to organise programmesfor medical staff at the hospital and satellite hospitals.
They will update knowledge and skills for medical officers by implementingadvanced-training seminar programmes for treating diabetes to bring the highestquality of care to patients.
A programme about assisting patients to use insulin pens will beheld so that they can take the medicine safely, overcome entry barriersand comply with treatments.
Other projects to raise the public’s awareness of diabetes will alsobe implemented.
Sanofi will sponsor annual scientific meetings as well as work alongsidedoctors in domestic and international medical seminars.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Phan Hoang Hiep, director of the NationalHospital of Endocrinology, said there are still many difficulties in treatingand controlling diabetes.
According to the hospital’s results announced in 2020, about 7.3% of peopleaged 30-39 in Vietnam have diabetes, with 55% of thesehaving complications. The number of undiagnosed cases is 62.6%, and thepre-diabetes rate is 17.8%.
“This disease has multiple complications, hence, it’s crucial for medicalprofessionals that they update their knowledge and treatment methods tooptimise treatment regimens,” he said.
Emin Turan, general manager of Foundation and Country LeadSanofi Vietnam, said diabetes is a chronic disease with a rapidlyincreasing number of patients with dangerous complications in recent years.
“As a pioneer in treating diabetes, we will continue to provide innovativesolutions for Vietnamese patients with diabetes, strengthening professionalcapabilities for medical staff and raising the public’s awareness,” he said.
Diabetes is not only a top chronic disease but also one of the top 10 non-fataldiseases in the world. Vietnam is one of the countries heavilyaffected by this disease.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, as of 2021, there are about537 million people with diabetes around the world, of which, thenumber of patients with diabetes in Vietnam is 4.2 million, accounting for6% of the population.
Nearly 1.6 million people, especially in remote areas, have benefited in the past decade from a healthcare programme that offers access to affordable products and services.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a ceremony marking the 120th anniversary of the Hanoi Medical University (HMU) and the 40th Vietnamese Teachers’ Day (November 20) on November 16.
Vietnam now boasts a nationwide healthcare network with 1,665 hospitals, 384 of which are non-public, supported by local commune- and ward-level stations. At the end of 2024, hospital bed capacity reached 34 per 10,000 people, slightly above the global average.
The 56-year-old patient from Quang Tri province was discharged in stable condition as he no longer experienced shortness of breath and was able to walk, move around, and eat normally.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Vu Trung, Director of the Pasteur Institute, said that under the MoU, the two sides committed to promoting diverse and practical collaborative activities, including joint conferences and workshops, exchanges of scholars, researchers and students, sharing academic materials, and the development of specific programmes and projects in scientific research, training, and epidemic prevention.
TytoCare, a leading Israeli telemedicine company based in Netanya, is willing to work with Vietnamese regulators, insurers, and healthcare providers to develop a sustainable digital health ecosystem.
The partnership is under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding on the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control, signed in Hanoi on July 22.
An estimated 7 million Vietnamese are currently living with diabetes, but about 50% remain undiagnosed, a dangerous gap that is fuelling serious, preventable complications and increasing the burden on the healthcare system.
In 2024, Vietnam achieved 99% coverage for the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine, up from 80% in 2023. Immunisation coverage in the country has not only rebounded to the high levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic but has now surpassed the rates recorded in 2019.
Health authorities in HCM City have issued an urgent alert after six people died from dengue fever, amid a spike in infections driven by the onset of the rainy season.
During the peak months of July and August 2025, the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) needs at least 90,000 units of blood to supply 180 hospitals in the northern region. However, despite continuous efforts, the reserve blood is still short of 30,000 units.
The Hanoi ceremony highlighted efforts to ensure all citizens, especially women and youth, can access accurate information and healthcare services to make informed reproductive choices.
After such a long time, the law has revealed many limitations, prompting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to gather opinions to amend the law to give more chances to thousands of patients every year.
Currently, cardiovascular specialists from the 108 Military Central Hospital are working alongside a team of Prof.Dr. Jan D. Schmitto, Deputy Director of MHH’s Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery on clinical trials for MCS devices, implanted in heart failure patients either as a bridge to transplantation or as permanent treatment.
The centre not only serves residents living on the island, but also receives tens of thousands of visitors every year, according to Assoc Prof Dr Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the HCM CIty Department of Health.
Not only does Vietnam attract international tourists with its landscapes, culture, and cuisine, but it is also gradually becoming a reliable destination for medical treatment, offering high-quality services at reasonable costs.
Over the past six months, 150 communal health stations in provinces including Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Ben Tre and Ca Mau have been equipped with information technology systems. In addition, 117 key provincial healthcare workers have received training, with thousands more expected to follow.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Ministry of Health swiftly launched a telemedicine programme, connecting more than 1,000 medical establishments nationwide. The model, which remains in operation, has benefited tens of thousands of patients, including foreign nationals.
After more than three weeks of intensive treatment, the patient's pneumonia improved, breathing stabilised, sedation was reduced, and the breathing tube was removed. He is now conscious, able to eat orally, and in recovery.
Sanofi Vietnam and the National Hospital of Endocrinology signed a MOU to implement projects relating to diabetes on November 16 in Hanoi. (Photo courtesy of Sanofi Vietnam) 
