Bach Mai Hospital Partners with the Health Sector in Phu Quy Special Zone

Addressing this reality at a working session with Phu Quy Special Zone, Mr. Y Thanh Ha Nie Kdam, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee and Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Lam Dong Province, stressed that investing in on-site healthcare is a long-term solution to safeguard the “golden time” for patients and create a foundation for the sustainable development of Phu Quy Special Zone. Following this directive, Phu Quy has connected with Bach Mai Hospital to accompany the locality on this journey.

Barriers from Transfer Costs

Phu Quy Special Zone is located more than 120 km (56 nautical miles) southeast of the mainland, with natural conditions and transportation heavily dependent on weather. The northeast monsoon season, lasting from November to around February or March, often brings rough seas, at times disrupting maritime transport.

During such periods, severe medical emergencies—especially strokes—leave residents with virtually no choice but to hire expensive helicopters for life-saving transfers to the mainland.

The cost of each helicopter flight currently ranges from VND 350–450 million, far beyond the financial capacity of most island households, whose livelihoods primarily depend on fishing and are highly seasonal and weather-dependent.

Even when sea transport is feasible, if a patient’s condition does not coincide with the operating schedule of high-speed ferries, families are forced to charter private vessels for medical transfers, at a cost of around VND 150 million per trip.

These expenses represent a heavy burden for Phu Quy residents. More critically, emergency cases commonly requiring urgent transfer—such as strokes, severe trauma, multiple injuries and acute cardiovascular conditions—demand intervention within the “golden time”. Any delay can directly affect survival chances or the severity of long-term complications.

Recently, a primary school teacher working in Phu Quy suffered a severe stroke. As the incident occurred during rough seas when high-speed ferries were suspended, the family had to hire a helicopter to transport the patient to Military Hospital 175 (Ho Chi Minh City) for emergency care.

Mr N. V. K., a resident who hired a helicopter to transfer a family member from Phu Quy in 2024 at a cost of VND 275 million, shared:
“The enormous cost forced our family to borrow from relatives and friends. In an emergency, all we could think about was saving a life.”

Harsh conditions and weather-reliant transport force islanders to bear the entire cost of emergency medical evacuations.

Removing the “Bottleneck”

Phu Quy holds strategic importance in marine economy development, national defense and security, while emerging as a marine island tourism destination. In recent years, the number of tourists visiting and staying in Phu Quy has steadily increased.

This trend underscores the urgent need to strengthen on-site healthcare capacity, particularly emergency response and critical care, to ensure the safety of residents and visitors alike. The realities of emergency care and patient transfers in Phu Quy highlight the necessity of long-term, sustainable solutions rather than complete reliance on off-island transfers.

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“Investing in on-site healthcare is a long-term solution to safeguard the ‘golden time’ for patients and create a foundation for the sustainable development of Phu Quy Special Zone.”

Lam Dong Provincial Party Secretary Y Thanh Ha Nie Kdam

Following guidance from the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee, Phu Quy Special Zone has connected with Bach Mai Hospital to receive comprehensive professional support.

Comprehensive Professional Support from Bach Mai Hospital

To enhance professional capacity for island healthcare personnel, the Military-Civilian Medical Center of Phu Quy Special Zone has formally proposed that Bach Mai Hospital support training and capacity building in stroke management, provide remote consultations (Telehealth), and develop coordinated clinical protocols.

According to Dr. Dao Viet Phuong, Deputy Director of the Bach Mai Stroke Center, based on the proposal from the Military-Civilian Medical Center of Phu Quy and the connection facilitated by Lam Dong provincial leaders, Professor Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, together with Associate Professor, PhD Mai Duy Ton, Director of the Bach Mai Stroke Center, decided to provide comprehensive medical support to Phu Quy.

Specifically, Bach Mai Hospital will waive training fees and transfer medical techniques to Phu Quy healthcare staff during the 2026–2028 period; dispatch working teams to conduct field assessments and develop on-site support plans; and cover accommodation and ferry tickets for one doctor and one nurse to receive training in Hanoi.

Following training, the center will be licensed to implement thrombolysis techniques for stroke treatment. Bach Mai Hospital will also sponsor a Telemedicine system, to be installed at the stroke unit within the Emergency Department of the center, directly connected to the Bach Mai Stroke Center to provide 24/7 professional support for stroke cases.

Regarding equipment investment, the Military-Civilian Medical Center of Phu Quy Special Zone is in urgent need of a CT scanner. This equipment has been included in the provincial investment plan, with implementation assigned to the Lam Dong Department of Health.

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“Human resource training and equipment investment will gradually complete the island healthcare system, elevating the quality of medical services to better meet the healthcare needs of residents, officials, soldiers and tourists.”

Bui Thi Thao, Deputy Director of the Military-Civilian Medical Center of Phu Quy Special Zone

Phu Quy is moving toward sustainable development. Investment in on-site medical equipment and professional capacity building—specifically in stroke management and advanced emergency care—does more than reduce the financial burden on residents; it safeguards the 'golden hour' of life, establishing a critical foundation for the future of this strategic frontline zone