Ho Chi Minh City asks Japanese university group to consider building a teaching hospital

Ho Chi Minh City is looking to deepen healthcare cooperation with Japan, SGGP English Edition reported on October 2.

The meeting

City Vice Chairman Nguyen Manh Cuong received a delegation from Japan's International University of Health and Welfare (IUHW) Group, led by Prof. Dr. Takagi Kuninori.

What the city asked for

The city asked IUHW to consider taking part in building a general hospital for Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine. According to the report, the facility would combine patient care with training and research.

Existing cooperation

IUHW has already supported the city in several ways. It has given scholarships to medical students and run professional training at the Health Evaluation and Promotion Center (HECI) at Cho Ray Hospital.

Topics discussed

Both sides spoke about:

• Speeding up the development of the healthcare workforce
• Strengthening professional cooperation
• Setting up "high-quality Japanese-standard medical facilities"
• Possible IUHW investment in the city

City officials promised to provide favorable conditions for the group's investment, training and research activities, as long as they comply with Vietnamese law.

What it means for residents

This was a discussion rather than a signed agreement, and the article did not say whether IUHW would invest, nor give a cost, location or timeline for any new hospital. For now, it signals that the city is seeking more training capacity and higher-standard hospital facilities with foreign partners. Residents should not expect any change to current hospital services as a result of this meeting alone.

Source: SGGP English Edition.