Hanoi (VNA) - On May 6, the Centre for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Vinmec Times City International General Hospital has been officially recognised as a centre of excellence in sports medicine according to AFC standards.
The certification of excellence in sports medicine by AFC represents the highest standard for medical facilities and hospitals offering optimal healthcare services for Asian football players.
Tran Quoc Tuan, Chairman of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), stated that having a certified sports medicine centre provides professional athletes with a trusted treatment option locally, reducing the need for costly overseas treatments.
"Recently, many players have been injured due to frequent and high-intensity competitions, which has impacted the performance of teams. For instance, the Vietnamese national football team has suffered from a shortage of defenders, affecting the team's overall performance due to the lack of timely evaluation and monitoring systems for sports injuries. Therefore, the VFF is deeply concerned about this issue," emphasized the VFF Chairman.
Professor Tran Trung Dung, Director of the Centre for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Vinmec Times City, highlighted that the centre is equipped with the most modern and advanced functional departments. The centre not only treats surgical conditions but also specializes in sports medicine, providing comprehensive and personalized healthcare for both professional and amateur athletes.
Dr. Dato’ Gurcharan Singh, Chairman of the AFC Medical Committee, said that the health and medical rights of players are crucial for AFC's vision to ensure the success of teams on the global stage.
Expanding the network of AFC Centres of Medical Excellence enhances service scope, accessibility, and care for players, and offers more opportunities for clinical medical cooperation and interdisciplinary knowledge exchange across the continent.
Since 2022, the Centre for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Vinmec has signed medical support contracts with all national teams under the VFF.
Under this programme, Vinmec has provided treatment for numerous key players of the national team, such as Nguyen Van Toan, Nguyen Kim Nhat, Le Van Xuan, Thai Thi Thao, Chuong Thi Kieu, and Nguyen Thi Van, helping them return to play.
The centre also organised a 2023 sports medicine knowledge enhancement course for 40 medical staff from women's football clubs and futsal teams, providing knowledge on injury prevention and treatment for players and conducting sports medicine research activities in collaboration with the football federation and universities.
Currently, there are 12 centres in Asia certified for excellence. These centres lead in clinical research, professional training, injury prevention, and the application of scientific and technological advances in sports medicine.
To achieve this certification, Vinmec must undergo rigorous assessments, ensuring they meet the highest standards in infrastructure, clinical expertise, emergency response, research, education, collaboration with national football federations, and compliance with AFC medical regulations./.
