WB-funded Proj Helps Ease Overload at Cancer Hospitals in Northern Vietnam

The Northern East and Red River Delta Regions Health System Support Project (NORRED), funded by the World Bank (WB) since 2013, has helped ease overload situations at benefiting cancer hospitals in Vietnam’s northern region, state media reported. The information was released at a conference last weekend to review the implementation of the project in 2013-2018 and outline tasks for 2019-2020. So far, Hanoi-based National Cancer Hospital (popularly known as K Hospital) has had 17 satellite hospitals and 11 hospitals joining NORRED project, and navigated patients for 30 hospitals. K Hospital has trained 2,972 learners, transferred 291 techniques to other hospitals, and compiled 12 specialized books in the field. Such moves have helped ease overload at centrally-run cancer hospitals, with the rate of patient transfer decreasing by 95% at some hospitals and in some types of cancer, said Director of K Hospital Tran Van Thuan. NORRED project has been implemented since October 2013 in 13 localities in Vietnam’s Red River Delta, namely Lang Son, Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, and Hoa Binh. Every year, Vietnam records an average of 164,671 new cancer cases and 114,871 deaths due to the disease. (Bo Y Te, moh, VTV, VnExpress, Dan Tri, Suc Khoe Doi Song, InfoNet, Thanh Nien)