Singaporean doctors landing in Vietnam to treat complex medical conditions

The initiative will allow Vietnamese patients to significantly reduce their financial burden by not having to travel to Singapore.

FV collaborates with O2 Healthcare Group to establish a Regional Thoracic Surgery Centre

The announcement follows a prior collaboration between FV and O2 Healthcare Group, a renowned lung specialist group based in Singapore and a member of OUE Healthcare Limited, that established a regional thoracic surgery centre on August 15.

The FV Thoracic Surgery Centre specialises in treating thoracic conditions, particularly lung cancer, one of the most dangerous and difficult-to-treat diseases today.

Melvin Heng, CEO, Thomson Medical Group, and Julie Mc Caughan, COO, OUE Healthcare Limited after signing the agreement to establish FV Thoracic Surgery Centre

Dr. Su Jang Wen, a well-known thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon from Singapore and a member of O2 Healthcare Group, will join the team at the centre, led by Luong Ngoc Trung. According to Julie McCaughan, COO of OUE Healthcare Limited, Su’s high-level skills and advanced treatment techniques will contribute to many successful treatments of lung cancer patients in Vietnam.

"We believe this is the foundation for long-term collaboration that will benefit Vietnamese patients," said McCaughan.

Dr. Jean-Marcel Guillon, CEO of FV Hospital, said, "Su is one of the top thoracic surgeons in Asia, so we decided his input on a centre for patients with thoracic conditions would be key. Lung cancer is a major public health problem in Vietnam and diagnosing it early is key to survival, so the priority of our centre is to detect and treat lung cancer at the early stages."

Melvin Heng,CEO of Thomson Medical Group (with microphone)

Singaporean healthcare organisations plan to bring top surgeons to FV

Melvin Heng, CEO of Thomson Medical Group, revealed that the collaboration with O2 Healthcare Group is only the beginning, with many more projects planned, and that Thomson Medical Group and FV Hospital are currently planning comprehensive healthcare training.

"Vietnamese doctors can learn from Singaporean doctors and vice versa. This exchange of expertise is a great opportunity for both sides to develop and elevate their skills. We believe FV Hospital is one of the best hospitals in Vietnam, but our goal is to turn it into one of the best hospitals in the region," said Heng.

Besides O2 Healthcare Group, Heng mentioned that another 10 major healthcare organisations in Singapore wish to send some of their top surgeons to FV to treat complex conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular interventions, general surgery, pelvic surgery, head and neck surgery, and liver disease treatment, among others.

Singaporean healthcare specialists are aware of FV Hospital's reputation for having high standards of treatment from a team of highly skilled doctors, with FV Hospital three times achieving Joint Commission International (JCI) quality accreditation.

FV Hospital has been accredited by JCI three times in a row

The wave of Singaporean doctors coming to work at FV will contribute to the exchange of expertise and technology transfer, giving Vietnamese doctors the opportunity to enhance their professional skills. This also benefits patients by reducing treatment costs.

Vietnamese people reportedly spend $2-3 billion annually on medical treatment abroad. Bringing Singaporean doctors and advanced treatment technologies to Vietnam will help reduce that number, while also attracting foreigners to Vietnam for medical care.

"Many Vietnamese patients have been going to Singapore for treatment for many years, but now we can offer comparable healthcare services right here," said Heng.

Experts estimate that the scheme can save patients up to 40 per cent on medical costs, not to mention travel and accommodation expenses. Moreover, patients will be closer to their family while undergoing treatment.

The Ministry of Health reportedly favours the initiative as it supports its goal of developing high-tech services that respond to the increasing demand for complex healthcare solutions in Vietnam, with the country ideally becoming a destination for healthcare tourism in the future.

The arrival of Singaporean doctors to work at FV is not only a positive sign for the hospital's development but also for Vietnam's healthcare regional as a whole. This is a golden opportunity for Vietnam to enhance the quality of its healthcare services, while also asserting its position on the regional and global healthcare map.

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