Health and beauty sector needs to refine standards

What do you think about the health and beauty service in Vietnam?

It has been growing at a fast rate recently. There are many new hospitals and clinics built with the best hardware that is updated almost every month, and some existing centres are already very well equipped in line with global standards and getting bigger every day.

However, the service does not always please more well-off customers due to current software procedures. With fast economic growth and a convenient transport system, many richer families who feel unsatisfied with the current medical service in Vietnam can more easily head overseas for better medical service.

There is an issue for the Vietnamese government and the Ministry of Health if people spend too much on medical treatment overseas. To help solve this, I think the government should invest in material infrastructure and human resources for the health sector. Some advanced equipment and general skills are still lacking in Vietnam.

How do you evaluate the types of service in Vietnam in comparison to your home country?

Vietnamese people are becoming more and more concerned with their personal beauty. Along with that, Vietnamese services and technologies have been being improving. But health service qualifications in some of Vietnam’s neighbouring countries are simply better. Although many doctors here have gained masters or even doctoral degrees, most doctors and nurses are still not trained enough. Some clinics operate without proper licenses and without fully-qualified doctors and nurses. We should be aware that education is the key to everything, particularly in health which relates to people’s lives. The hospital environment here needs to be upgraded by introducing international standards.

In terms of policies for overseas investors in health, have you faced obstacles in investing and operating activities here?

South Koreans have been the leading investors of hardware in Vietnam’s health sector. Healthcare and plastic surgery in particular relate to software built by good human resources. Although the process for hospital and clinic investment seems to be clearly written in Vietnamese law, it is in fact very hard for us to understand and follow some guidelines. It is sometimes impossible for us to get licences and even after receiving one it is still hard to adapt to the legal system here. South Korean doctors are not protected enough legally in Vietnam as it stands.

Is health and beauty in Vietnam attractive enough to become an emerging destination for medical tourism in Asia?

Vietnamese people have really good hand-skills, are very smart, and have great potential to be a hub for plastic surgery and skincare in the Indochina area. However, what can be done if a potential customer believes they can spend the same or slightly more for a better service in a neighbouring country like Thailand, Hong Kong, South Korea, or Japan?

We often say that cheap things are not good. In healthcare, the most important things are qualifications and the safety of patients. Therefore, I think to be a destination for medical tourism, Vietnam’s human resources in the health sector must improve foreign languages and general skills.

What can local authorities here do to promote the health and beauty sector beyond its borders?

In the context of tough competition just a few hours away on plane to countries already mentioned, Vietnam needs overseas inflow including not only capital but also software systems like human resources. The first thing that Vietnam should develop is an education and training system including customer service, to ensure effective treatment and to satisfy foreign customers. The environment inside beauty centres should be improved to guarantee customer satisfaction. Finally, advertising and marketing should also be enhanced to attract foreigners.