The Ministry of Health has approved a project to build satellite hospitals in 2013-2015 to reduce overload for hospitals at central level.

At a meeting in Hanoi on August 21, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien revealed proposals to launch the project and to get opinions for a draft circular on medical examination and treatment.Tien expressed hopes that in three years’ time doctors at satellite hospitals will be able to apply high technologies into medical examination and treatment for local people, helping improve the quality of medical services.Centrally-run hospitals will be tasked with developing the network of satellite hospitals to ensure these hospitals are equipped with modern technologies and qualified staff to treat chronic diseases.Accordingly, around 48 satellite hospitals of 14 nucleus hospitals specializing in cancer, trauma, heart, obstetrics and pediatrics will be established.Bach Mai Hospital, the largest in the north, will have 6 satellite hospitals in Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh and Lao Cai while the National Hospital of Pediatrics will have five in Ninh Binh, Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, Hai Duong and Thai Binh.Since 2005 the Ministry of Health has implemented a pilot project on satellite hospitals with the participation of centrally-run Bach Mai and Vietnam-Germany hospitals. The project focuses on training, technology transfer, medical equipment provision, and consultations for distance treatment via the internet. VOV