A ceremony was held in Hanoi on December 18 to see off 14 freshly-graduated doctors of the Hanoi Medical University (HMU) to work in Vietnam’s mountainous and remote areas.

At the event

It is part of the pilot project to send voluntary young doctors to disadvantaged areas, including border and island localities and especially focusing on 62 poor districts around the country.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said the project is a breakthrough for the health sector in ensuring skilled personnel and meeting the healthcare demand of people in disadvantaged localities.

It also helps local people gain access to better healthcare services, while reducing overload in central hospitals and wastefulness, she added.

She also asked cities and provinces to join hands with the health ministry to devise incentives for skilled and efficient medical staff, thus attracting more personnel to work in the localities.

Tien voiced her hope that the project will be a success with the close cooperation of ministries, departments and localities, along with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Youth Federation.

The 62 poor districts are currently in need of nearly 600 doctors in 15 areas of specialty.

Launched in February 2013, the pilot project aims to ensure the sustainability of skilled medical staff, with a view to sending more than 300 young doctors to work in disadvantaged districts by 2020.

The project has provided training courses for 300 doctors in 11 areas of specialty over the last two years.

Also on December 18, the HMU held a ceremony to start a course for 32 aspiring doctors who will be sent to work in impoverished districts in the northern provinces of Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Dien Bien, Bac Kan, and Tuyen Quang.

VNF/VNA