Following the conclusions of the Prime Minister and the directions of the City People's Committee regarding the implementation of high-level foreign commitments and agreements, the Hai Phong Department of Health has proactively deployed several substantive international cooperation programs that have brought high efficiency to public healthcare.
Humanitarian Cooperation with Yunnan (China)
A standout achievement is the realization of contents within the Agreement between the Hai Phong City Party Committee and the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee. Specifically:
- Establishing "Friendship Hospital" relations: Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital signed and promoted deep cooperation with the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan). This activity provides medical teams from both sides with opportunities to exchange experiences and access advanced medical techniques.
- "Light Journey" Program: In 2025, the Hai Phong Eye Hospital coordinated with experts from hospitals under Yunnan University to perform free cataract surgeries for 100 disadvantaged residents in the city.
- "Heart Journey" Project: The health sector implemented intensive survey activities at Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital to prepare for humanitarian treatment for children with congenital heart disease.
Border Medical Cooperation with Guangxi (China)
Alongside the relationship with Yunnan, the Hai Phong Department of Health actively participated in implementing the 2024–2026 Medical Cooperation Plan with the Guangxi Health Commission. Key focus areas include:
- Professional Capacity Building: Sending medical staff to Guangxi for short-term training and participating in joint drills for emergency medical response.
- Smart Health and Disease Prevention: Researching the construction of a smart warning platform for cross-border disease prevention and sharing information regarding infectious diseases at border gate areas.
- Cross-border Emergency Mechanism: Promoting the “two countries, two localities, two hospitals” ambulance model through international border gate pairs to provide timely support for citizens and tourists.
Overcoming Challenges and Breakthrough Orientations for 2026
Despite achieving noble humanitarian results, implementation still faces difficulties because certain administrative procedures related to international cooperation remain time-consuming, which has affected progress compared to original plans.
To overcome this, for 2026 and beyond, the Department of Health has identified an implementation roadmap following the "6 Clears" spirit (clear people, clear work, clear time, clear responsibility, clear products, and clear authority):
- Expanding Specialized Training: Focusing on surgery, ophthalmology, and plastic surgery through professional exchange courses with Yunnan province.
- Maintaining Humanitarian Activities: Aiming to periodically organize free medical examination and treatment programs for city residents.
- Strengthening Connectivity: Requesting the Department of Foreign Affairs to continue acting as the focal point to support connections and expand the scale of medical cooperation with strategic partners.
The serious implementation of high-level agreements not only enhances the reputation of Hai Phong's healthcare sector but also contributes to mobilizing international resources for the successful realization of the city's socio-economic development goals.