Ho Chi Minh City official prioritises healthcare for poor children
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Lê Quốc Phong, Deputy Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City, urged Hospital for Children No. 1 to continue providing support so that poor children can access medical treatment regardless of their families' financial situations.
He made this request during a ceremony celebrating the hospital’s 70th anniversary and its second Labour Hero title. Phong praised the hospital’s growth from 268 beds in 1956 to a leading pediatric facility serving Ho Chi Minh City, southern Vietnam, and the country as a whole.
The hospital now specialises in intensive care, resuscitation, neonatology, pediatric cardiology, and surgery. Its “red alert” protocol, designed to quickly respond to critical cases, won a Ho Chi Minh City Innovation Award and has been adopted nationally. Hospital staff also performed the first fetal cardiac intervention in Southeast Asia and share their expertise with other hospitals. Phong noted the hospital balances medical advancement with compassionate care, ensuring all patients receive attention, especially those facing economic hardship.
The hospital already receives support from various sources to cover treatment costs for children from disadvantaged families, lessening the financial burden on their parents. Phong asked the hospital to continue seeking resources and refine support systems to make advanced medical techniques affordable and accessible. He also requested attention to patient safety, psychological wellbeing, and family support during treatment.
The city government will work to improve hospital resources and staffing, aiming to establish Hospital for Children No. 1 as a leading pediatric center in Southeast Asia.
