Strengthening Healthcare Services in Lam Dong's Border Areas
Upgrading health stations in Lam Dong's border areas is expected to improve the quality of medical services while reinforcing the frontline healthcare system that provides primary care for communities living along Vietnam's border.
Enhancing Grassroots Healthcare
Quang Truc Commune Health Station was built in 2016 with funding from the Border Population Stabilization Program. Over the past decade, the facility has provided primary healthcare services, disease prevention counseling, immunization and timely medicine distribution for local residents.
However, after ten years of operation, the station's infrastructure and medical equipment have become outdated and no longer meet the growing healthcare needs of the community.
Patients requiring emergency treatment or specialized care often receive only basic first aid before being transferred to the Tuy Duc Regional Medical Center or Dak Nong General Hospital, potentially delaying treatment and compromising the quality of care.
According to Dr. Lang Minh Tinh, Acting Deputy Director of Quang Truc Commune Health Station, the facility currently operates under a new organizational model with 12 medical staff members.
The station receives an average of 300 to 350 patient visits each month, with all examination and treatment services covered by health insurance.
Dr. Tinh noted that preventive healthcare remains the station's primary responsibility. Common illnesses are diagnosed and treated locally, while more complicated cases beyond the station's professional capacity are promptly referred to higher-level hospitals.
He added that demand for medical services continues to increase, while residents must travel between 30 and 50 kilometers to reach hospitals or medical centers located in former district centers.
If additional investment is made in infrastructure, medical equipment and healthcare personnel, the quality of community healthcare services will improve significantly.
"Upgrading the health station will give residents greater confidence in seeking medical care locally, helping reduce costs while ensuring safer treatment. It will also strengthen public trust and contribute to maintaining security and social stability in border areas," Dr. Tinh said.
Advancing Digital Healthcare
Earlier this year, the Lam Dong Department of Health conducted surveys of health stations located in border areas.
The assessment found that many facilities suffer from deteriorating infrastructure, insufficient specialized treatment rooms and aging or damaged medical equipment.
Many stations also lack essential diagnostic equipment such as ultrasound machines, electrocardiographs (ECG), laboratory testing equipment and disinfection devices. These limitations prevent local facilities from providing modern medical services or serving as isolation and treatment centers during disease outbreaks, posing risks to regional public health.
To better meet healthcare demands and strengthen grassroots medical capacity—particularly through digital transformation—the province has proposed constructing and upgrading several health stations in both land border and island areas.
Lam Dong has requested the Ministry of Health to allocate VND 71 billion for investment in six border commune health stations.
Under the proposal, Quang Truc, Thuan Hanh and Tuy Duc Commune Health Stations would each receive VND 15 billion, Dak Wil Commune Health Station would receive VND 16 billion, Thuan An Commune Health Station VND 6 billion, and Phu Quy Special Zone Health Station VND 4 billion.
In addition to modern diagnostic equipment and emergency response facilities, the upgraded health stations will be equipped with digital health infrastructure to support electronic health records and integrated digital healthcare systems.
According to Dr. Vo Thanh Tuan, Deputy Director of Thuan An Commune Health Station, comprehensive investment in infrastructure, medical equipment and digital systems is expected to bring significant improvements to grassroots healthcare, enabling border communities to access higher-quality medical services closer to home.
When residents can receive diagnosis and treatment at local health stations equipped with modern medical technology, while their medical records are digitized and connected with higher-level hospitals, the quality of healthcare will improve significantly. This will also reduce pressure on referral hospitals and save patients considerable travel time and costs.
Dr. Vo Thanh Tuan, Deputy Director of Thuan An Commune Health Station