First hospital in HCM City meets breastfeeding practice standards

The Maternal and Child Health Department under the Ministry of Health and the Alive and Thrive Programme on November 20 presented the certificate of hospital with excellent breastfeeding practice to Hung Vuong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.
First hospital in HCM City meets breastfeeding practice standards ảnh 1A representative of the Hung Vuong Hospital receives the certificate of merit (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – The Maternal and Child HealthDepartment under the Ministry of Health and the Alive and Thrive Programme onNovember 20 presented the certificate of hospital with excellent breastfeedingpractice to Hung Vuong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

This is the fifth in Vietnam and the first in HCM City toreceive the certificate, which recognises the facilities’ efforts in practicingthe process of early care for newborn and supporting breastfeeding activities.

According to Doctor Hoang Thi Diem Tuyet, Director of HungVuong Hospital, in face of the low rate of breastfeeding mothers due to theirinadequate knowledge of the practice, the hospital has pioneered in givingconsultations to mothers on its benefit and supporting them in the field, thuschanging their awareness and helping them with breastfeeding in the hospitaland at home.

In the first three quarters of 2019, over 80 percent ofmothers giving birth in the hospital enjoy skin-to-skin contact with theirbabies continuously within 90 minutes right after their birth and have theirfirst breast milk.

As many as 92 percent of mothers giving birth in the hospitalgave positive feedback of breastfeeding consultations given by the hospital, andover 70 percent of them practiced exclusive breastfeeding while staying in thehospital.

Roger Mathisen, Director of Alive and Thrive in SoutheastAsia, said that thanks to the hospital’s efforts in assisting mothers tobreastfeed their children, the rate of breastfeeding mothers in the hospitalrose considerably in the first nine months of this year.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Duc Vinh, head of the Maternal and ChildHealth Department, noted that in Vietnam, 95 percent of mothers give birth inhealth care facilities, facilitating communications on breastfeeding.

Successful breastfeeding does not depend on only mothers,but also require supports from the families, community and healthcare staff, hestressed.

On August 6, the Health Ministry issued regulationsdetailing the criteria and procedure to recognise hospitals with excellentbreastfeeding practice, contributing to improving healthcareservices for mothers and children./.
VNA

See more

Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung, Dean of Medicine at University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University (VNU) Hanoi, speaks online on Vietnam’s digital transformation strategy in medical education. (Photo: VNA)

Forum spotlights AI and digital innovation in healthcare

To achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2045, Vietnam is prioritising the integration of AI and digital tools into the training of future doctors, said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Nhung, Dean of Medicine at University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University (VNU) Hanoi.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (second from right) visits the Karolinska Institutet. (Photo: VNA)

PM seeks stronger medical ties with Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet

The PM called for closer, broader, and more effective cooperation with Vietnamese partners, guided by the principles of mutual benefit, joint efforts, shared outcomes, and common development, including promoting stronger public-private partnerships and collaboration with businesses.

D.F (left), a US patient, at a follow-up examination with Do Lenh Hung, head of the department of urethral reconstructive surgery. (Photo: VNA)

High-quality healthcare services attract more foreign patients to Binh Dan Hospital

Renowned for its expertise in complex surgeries, the hospital has attracted foreign patients seeking treatment for conditions such as kidney and urinary tract stones, urological and gastrointestinal cancers, and male reproductive disorders. Most procedures are performed using advanced techniques, including laparoscopy and robotic surgery. T

A banner on the side of a car urges people to quit smoking for their own health and that of their loved ones (Photo: VNA)

Sharp tobacco tax hike urged to safeguard youths, community health

A 2023 report by the Vietnam Health Economics Association estimated that the total cost of tobacco-related healthcare and economic losses reached 108 trillion VND (4.14 billion USD) annually – equivalent to 1.14% of GDP and five times higher than the budget revenue generated by the tobacco industry.

On the morning of May 26, 2025, following bilateral talks at the Presidential Palace, President Luong Cuong (first, right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (first, left) witness the exchange of cooperation documents between leaders of ministries, agencies, and enterprises from both countries. In the photo: Ngo Chi Dung, General Director and Chairman of the Board of Viet Nam Vaccine Company (VNVC) (second, right), and Zainab Sadat Qayyum, President of Sanofi Southeast Asia – India, exchange the cooperation agreement on the transfer of Sanofi’s vaccine production technology to VNVC’s vaccine and biologicals plant. (Photo: VNVC)

Vietnam, France collaborate in vaccine production technology transfer

Under the agreement, VNVC and Sanofi will gradually implement technology transfers to enable domestic production of several key Sanofi vaccines that are widely used in Vietnam. In addition, Sanofi will support VNVC in training human resources and quality management in vaccine research and manufacturing.

Medical facilities have been instructed to prepare necessary infrastructure, medical equipment, and supplies to ensure effective patient admission, isolation, diagnosis, treatment, and infection control. - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Enhanced anti-COVID-19 measures in place amid rising cases

According to the World Health Organisation, more than 25,000 COVID-19 cases have been recorded globally over the past month. Notably, from January 1 to May 10, Thailand reported nearly 54,000 infections and 16 deaths. The rise in cases in Thailand has been linked to the spread of XBB.1.16 subvariant.

The working session between the Vietnamese delegation and the Cuban Ministry of Health (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cuba deepen health partnership with focus on biopharmaceuticals

During a working session with Cuban Deputy Minister of Health Tania Margarita Cruz Hernández, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen described the bilateral medical partnership as a vivid symbol of international solidarity, one deeply rooted in the historic friendship fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro.