New milestone marks Vietnam - Japan medical cooperation

At T-Matsuoka Medical Centre (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hanoi (VNA) – Japan’s T-Matsuoka Medical Centre, the first of its kind in Vietnam, was inaugurated in Hanoi on September 1, marking a new milestone in Vietnamese and Japanese relations. 

As 2023 celebrates the 50th anniversary of Vietnam – Japan diplomatic ties, the opening of T-Matsuoka Medical Centre in Vietnam symbolises a greater height to bilateral ties, said Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio. 

The inauguration has proven that bilateral healthcare cooperation has been paid attention to. It is clear evidence for a closer Vietnam-Japan relationship, he said. 

He noted a significant change in bilateral strategic partnership via the launch of the centre with a contingent of dedicated doctors and Japan’s modern infrastructure and equipment. 

The diplomat wished bilateral medical and healthcare coordination would keep growing in the future. 

Construction of T-Matsuoka Medical Centre in Hanoi costs around 8 million USD, half of which is invested by EMS Corporation. The centre will offer a wide range of healthcare services, such as health consultation with Japanese doctors, periodic health check-ups, and personal and specialised business examinations.

Tran Thi Nhi Ha, Director of the Hanoi Department of Health, said the healthcare needs of the Vietnamese people is increasing at present, requiring more investment in health examination and treatment system to offer the best service to the people.

The Vietnamese Government has issued several policies calling for all social resources, including the State, private and other social organisations, to join hands to contribute to building and perfecting the health examination and treatment system in Vietnam. Over the past five decades, ties between Vietnam and Japan have thrived. Japan is Vietnam’s critical strategic partner in medical cooperation, she said. 

She added that the birth of T-Matsuoka Medical Centre marks a new step in close and extensive cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, which is demonstrated through collaboration in many fields, including health care. 

She applauded efforts and creativity in establishing a high-quality medical centre, giving the Vietnamese people a chance to access advanced Japanese medicine.

Ha expressed her hope that this will soon become an effective cooperation model between the two nations. 

The centre will handle the Japanese-standard examination and screening process to assist patients in detecting many diseases, including cancer, and provide timely treatment plans to reduce the risk of complications.

It will also offer specialised examination services such as consulting Japanese doctors and specialists, second opinion consultation, periodic health check-ups and in-depth screenings (for individuals and businesses), private doctors (for individuals and businesses), and support in medical examination and treatment in Japan.

At the inauguration ceremony (Photo: VietnamPlus)

When a second medical consultation with Japanese medical experts is needed, the results of check-ups will be sent directly to Japan for consultation and discussion with the Vietnamese doctors to conclude.

With a network of 34 leading general and specialised hospitals in Japan, T-Matsuoka Medical Centre supports clients in examination and treatment in case they need to travel to Japan for medical care.

Earlier on August 31, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception for the Medical Representative of Japan’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Matsuoka Yoshinori, who is in Vietnam to prepare for the opening of T-Matsuoka Medical Centre in Hanoi.

Minh thanked Japan for providing Vietnam with vaccines and medical supplies to fight COVID-19, enabling the country to recover and reopen borders post-pandemic.

Welcoming EMS Corporation to invest in Vietnam and develop the country’s first T-Matsuoka Medical Centre in Hanoi equipped with modern facilities, the Deputy PM said it contributes to strengthening medical cooperation between the two countries and improving healthcare service quality in Vietnam.

Founded in 2013, EMS Corporation provides 24/7 emergency services with six clinics across Japan./.