Ho Chi Minh City Thong Nhat Hospital, the leading geriatric cardiology center in the South and healthcare center for senior officials, will become a special comprehensive geriatric hospital.
"Geriatrics is a field of great concern for the health sector in the context of the world entering the aging population stage, our country has a rapid aging population," Associate Professor, Dr. Le Dinh Thanh, Director of Thong Nhat Hospital ( Ministry of Health ), said at the international geriatric cardiology conference on October 28. The average life expectancy of Vietnamese people is increasing, but their physical and mental health is not commensurate, the number of elderly people needing medical care is increasing.
According to Associate Professor Thanh, Thong Nhat Hospital currently has the highest number of elderly patients in the country. This place is currently treating about 1,200 inpatients, of which 70% are elderly.
Elderly people receiving treatment at Thong Nhat Hospital. Photo: Xuan Binh
Thong Nhat is one of three hospitals nationwide responsible for taking care of the health of senior officials. The other two are Huu Nghi ( Hanoi ) and C (Da Nang). This hospital was therefore previously considered a "hospital for officials", but in recent years has expanded its medical examination and treatment services to the people. In addition to taking care of the health of senior officials, Thong Nhat Hospital is allowed to use 400 beds to receive and treat people, including the elderly.
Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management Luong Ngoc Khue Khue said that the orientation of Thong Nhat Hospital to become a special comprehensive geriatric hospital is of great significance, in the context that the current health system only has one Central Geriatric Hospital (Hanoi).
The Ministry of Health is also investing in a high-quality center for senior health care, especially research on the elderly. "This is not only the hospital's dream but also the Ministry of Health's wish," said Mr. Khue.
Vietnam has one of the fastest aging rates in the world and is rapidly approaching the threshold of an aging population. In Ho Chi Minh City, the average life expectancy is 76.2 years (the whole country is 73.6).
Life expectancy has increased, but the average number of healthy years is only 64 years, meaning that the elderly have many diseases. The elderly in Vietnam face a double burden of disease, suffering from many diseases at the same time, especially chronic and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc.
Le Phuong
Source link
Comment (0)