Ground broken on VN-Japan International Oncology Hospital

The groundbreaking ceremony of The Viet Nam-Japan International Oncology Hospital, Ha Noi, March 2, 2017

The hospital got an overall investment of VND 1.5 trillion (US$ 65.7 million) and covers an area of nearly 5,000 square meters, with a floor area of 28,000 square meters.

Once operating in 2018, the hospital will have 100 inpatient beds and provide examination and treatment to outpatients equivalent to 250 beds.

All departments of the hospital are expected to meet Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards for Hospitals (JCI standards), targeting screening, early detection, diagnosis and treatment for cancer patients.

The hospital will also operate under the hi-tech model of an international hospital on par with standards of Japan and the U.S., with testing equipment reaching comparable standards to modern hospitals in the two countries. In addition, the hospital will comprise a centre for pathological analysis and diagnosis will be connected with partners in Japan and the U.S. for the most accurate initial examination results.

Addressing the ground-breaking ceremony, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien stressed that fluctuating patterns of diseases have increased the incidence and mortality of non-communicable diseases, of which cancer is a prime example.

The shift has increased pressure on the health system in general and the network of cancer prevention in particular, she said, adding that overcrowd in cancer treatment facilities in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City is the clearest evidence.

The construction of the hospital would not only reduce overload at medical facilities in the capital city, but also meet the demand of the public for better treatment and reduce the number of patients seeking abroad treatment, the Minister added.

Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung asked investors to focus resources on implementing project management in accordance with the provisions of law, while guaranteeing efficiency and quality to put the hospital into operation in the first quarter of 2018 as approved.

Statistics showed that around 200,000 new cancer cases are reported yearly in Viet Nam with around 100,000 deaths.