Seven young doctors from the Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics and Bach Mai Hospital have been dispatched to work in impoverished districts in the northern mountainous provinces of Lao Cai, Bac Kan, Son La and Dien Bien.

This is part of a pilot project sending young doctors to disadvantaged areas, including mountainous and border localities and islands. The project, approved by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in 2013, prioritises 62 poor districts to improve healthcare services at the grassroots level.

Doctor Doan Thanh Huong (centre) volunteers to work in Muong Ang district's healthcare centre in Dien Bien province. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at a handover ceremony in Lao Cai province on June 28^th, MoH Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said that young doctors who have medical practice certificates and performed well at university will work in poor districts.

After being further trained in a speciality, male doctors will work in district hospitals in deprived localities for three years and female doctors for two years, Tien said, adding that they will have favourable conditions in terms of salary, allowances and working conditions.

She underlined that the project will facilitate access to high-quality healthcare services for people in mountainous and remote areas while easing the burden on central hospitals.

The project has so far attracted registrations from 78 doctors.

Head of the Organisation and Personnel Department Pham Van Tac said those poor districts need about 600 doctors. The project will continue working with hospitals to recruit qualified doctors for the project, he added.

At the ceremony, Bac Ha district’s general hospital in Lao Cai province was presented with two artificial kidney machines by the Hanoi-based E Hospital, one patient monitoring equipment by the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital and a breathing machine and one surgical kit by the Bach Mai Hospital.

On the occasion, Chairwoman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs Nguyen Thuy Anh, MoH Minister Tien and leaders of Lao Cai province presented gifts to poor patients at Bac Ha district’s general hospital.

Free medicines and medical checks-up were also provided for relatives of people who rendered services to the country and children in Bac Ha district./.

VNF/VNA