Practical medical relief solutions in Vietnam during pandemic

The fourth wave of COVID-19 is putting a strain on Vietnam's healthcare system. Despite slight positive progress, the nationwide number of infections, particularly in the southern growth centre Ho Chi Minh City and diverse southern localities, has continued to rise swiftly. More than 1,120 severe COVID-19 patients were on ventillators and ECMO as of September 10.

Field hospitals are still overcrowded with patients

Doctors and nurses in hospitals are working around the clock in an effort to save lives. However, overcrowded health facilities, coupled with a shortage of medical supplies, are putting considerable pressure on frontliners. In the face of many unprecedented common problems, governments, businesses, and citizens are calling for innovative relief measures to address critical medical requirements.

Easing load on frontliners with practical medical support

Vietnamese government agencies and companies have availed of all available resources to seek solutions for medical relief needs. SOSmap and Zalo Connect have been launched as a result of technological advancements to assist people in tough circumstances.

Citizens can access the SOSmap.net website or the Zalo application, fill in the information they need to get support and then have the operation team connect with organisations, including reputable medical units. Another technology platform that has emerged recently is "Help me!", with the ability to mobilise a network of doctors and nurses to support mild patients through online consultation.

Aside from technical solutions, providing medical supplies to the frontline is critical amid the current pandemic relief trend. With the Oxy ATM model, the Young Entrepreneurs Association and the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union have deployed 24 free oxygen tank exchange stations across all districts in the city. In addition to supporting F0 cases at home, the oxygen ATM will soon support the exchange of free oxygen cylinders for hospitals with an expected number of 5,000-10,000 bottles.

Recently, TCPVN, the first international office of leading Thai conglomerate TCP Group (T.C.Pharma) in Vietnam, the owner of the Red Bull and Warrior energy drinks brands, contributed VND1 billion ($43,480), nearly equivalent to one container of oxygen to the Vietnam Young Physicians Association, and at the same time equipped ambulances for District 11 Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City to strengthen support for patient care. Thousands of boxes of Warrior, Red Bull, and Red Bull KTD energy drinks have been sent by the TCPVN to the Ho Chi Minh City Command and 18 southern provinces and cities, as well as the doctors and frontline troops.

TCPVN presented an ambulance to the hospital in District 11, Ho Chi Minh City

Pham Quoc Dung, director of District 11 Hospital, said that the hospital is directly caring for more than 200 patients and on average receives more than 20 emergency cases of COVID-19 every day. In addition, District 11 Hospital also supports neighbouring field hospitals, isolation areas, and cases in the community. According to Dung, the efforts of businesses like TCPVN and the government to reduce the load on hospitals and healthcare practitioners have made medical care much more efficient, especially through technology application, donated ambulances, and oxygen tanks.