This meeting demonstrated the clear determination of the city’s health sector to serve the people without leaving anyone behind — even in the most remote areas.
At the meeting, the city’s health sector outlined a two-phase plan to strengthen medical capacity in Con Dao.
The first phase, starting from the third quarter of 2025, involves rotating skilled doctors to the island across various specialties, including Obstetrics, Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Paediatrics. The plan also includes organisation of remote consultations and online training for the medical staff of the Con Dao Military-Civilian Medical Centre.
This phase prioritises the development of safe, on-site services with a full team including obstetricians, anaesthetists, and neonatal resuscitation specialists, aiming to reduce dependence on costly and risky patient transfers by boat or helicopter.
During the period, emergency trauma care capacity will be strengthened to address sea accidents, tourist injuries, and emergency needs of children and the elderly. Establishing a local blood bank is also a priority to proactively manage emergency situations.
Phase two focuses on drafting a proposal to establish a suitably scaled general hospital and creating collaborative mechanisms with major city hospitals such as Hung Vuong, Children’s Hospital 1, Binh Dan, and Gia Dinh People’s Hospital.
The Department of Health is collaborating with medical universities in Ho Chi Minh City to develop a residency training programme that includes rotations at the Con Dao Medical Centre/Hospital. This provides resident doctors with valuable experience in a unique environment and supports policies to retain and attract healthcare professionals to work in Con Dao.
