Vietnamese expert joins first global tuberculosis task force
Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung, Director of the Central Pulmonology Hospital, is one of the 19 members of the first task force on global tuberculosis research founded by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung (fifth from right) and other members of WHO’s task force on global tuberculosis research at their first meeting in Switzerland. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung, Director of the Central Pulmonology Hospital,is one of the 19 members of the first task force on global tuberculosisresearch founded by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Thefirst meeting of the team was held on December 9 at the WHO headquarters inGeneva, Switzerland.
Accordingto the organisation, Vietnam is one of the three countries whose research plansfor tuberculosis treatment are highly acclaimed.
Vietnam’ssuccess in tuberculosis prevention has been recognised nationwide andinternationally over the years. Each year, the country detects and providestreatment for 100,000 people with tuberculosis, with a cure rate of over 90 percent for new cases.
Mostof the new technologies applied in tuberculosis treatment appeared to beeffective. Some 6,000 patients who had drug-resistant tuberculosis wereadmitted for treatment in recent years.
VICTORY,the country’s specialised tuberculosis research co-operation centre, hasdeveloped a wide research network for tuberculosis and lung diseases.
Theresearch process provided essential database for the planning of large-scalepolicies, such as the National Tuberculosis Programme until 2020, with a visionto 2030.
Atthe meeting, Dr Nhung spoke about the importance of research for the programmeand the experiences gained from it.
InJune, he was voted as the first Vietnamese to join the Strategic and TechnicalAdvisory Group for Tuberculosis, which is the highest operating and strategicplanning mechanism for tuberculosis control of WHO.-VNA
Vietnam and Fiji have been elected as representatives for the Western Pacific region in the World Health Assembly’s Executive Board for a three-year tenure from May 2016 – May 2019.
A Vietnamese representative was elected to the World Health Organisation Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Tuberculosis (STAG-TB) for the first time.
Vietnam earned another four awards in the latest round of the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), a US-funded programme to fund scientific research in developing countries.
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.
Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung (fifth from right) and other members of WHO’s task force on global tuberculosis research at their first meeting in Switzerland. (Photo: VNA) 
