Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health (MoH) recently held a meeting of the appraisal council in Hanoi to consider the proposal from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS), seeking recognition of its international hospital quality standards in Vietnam.
The ACHS is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving quality in health care, representing governments, consumers, and peak health bodies throughout Australia. Its standards have been applied in Australia and many other countries.
The organisation becomes the first international standards body to formally apply for the Vietnamese government's recognition, seeking approval to implement hospital quality certification programmes in compliance with Vietnam's current regulations, particularly the Politburo’s Resolution No.72-NQ/TW setting out groundbreaking measures to strengthen the protection, care, and improvement of the people’s health.
Its set of standards was designed to ensure care quality, patient safety, and continuous improvement. Hospitals are assessed against compliance levels and must register and undergo regular evaluations to maintain accreditation.
In Vietnam, several hospitals have already embraced those international standards. Hung Vuong Hospital became the first public establishment in the country to achieve Accreditation status after just one year of implementation. Private hospital groups such as Hoan My and Hong Ngoc have also adopted ACHS/ACHS International (ACHSI) standards, starting from the Foundation level, while others are working with the US-based Joint Commission International (JCI).
Vietnam’s hospitals have implemented the MoH’s 83 quality criteria to improve service and hospital governance.
At the meeting, Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Medical Council, Director of the MoH’s Department of Medical Service Administration, and vice chairman of the appraisal council, stressed that recognising international standards is a significant move for Vietnamese hospitals to align with global benchmarks.
He underscored that certification results must be accurate and transparent, reflecting continuous improvement efforts and the brand reputation of each hospital undergoing assessment.
Duc urged the ACHS/ACHSI to incorporate the council’s expert recommendations and complete their dossier for the MoH’s recognition.
The Department of Medical Services Administration will develop an advanced set of hospital quality standards tailored to Vietnam’s conditions while harmonising with international practices./.
VNA
