Vietnam has one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia. This is good news, but it also means greater urbanization and a greater increase in chronic noncommunicable diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes.
The country’s medical infrastructure initially wasn’t equipped to handle this change. There was a shortage not just of doctors and technicians but also state-of-the-art equipment and training in how to use it. The scant resources were also unevenly distributed among the various hospitals and medical centers. There was clearly an urgent need for better medical training.
In May 2023, VinUniversity in Hanoi opened its Advanced Imaging Education Center (AIEC) in the College of Health Sciences, the first such facility in Southeast Asia. The AIEC gives students hands-on training in using advanced radiology equipment, including CT, MR, ultrasound, and PET, all provided by GE HealthCare.
“The facility and technology we have here is one of the most advanced in the region,” says Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, director of the Medical Simulation Center at VinUni. It draws students not just from VinUni and the Vinmec Healthcare System (one of the largest wellness providers in the country) but from across Vietnam and other countries, including Thailand, Singapore, and the U.S. The AIEC offers education at all levels, from VinUni medical and nursing students to residents to physicians doing continuing education.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long
The AIEC classroom can accommodate up to 30 students at a time. Each workstation is equipped with a computer that can run simulations of different types of scans to give students practice in reviewing and analyzing various modalities under the supervision of a lecturer. The system offers 100 different pathologies for review, drawn from all over the world.
The center also includes a simulation room that gives students practice in scanning in real time. The room is so realistic, Dr. Long says, that it can be converted into a real hospital operating room if necessary.
The AIEC brings in international experts to train the trainers, including physicians and GE HealthCare technicians who helped build the imaging equipment in the first place. The training is intended to bring students up to international standards, and it offers certification from organizations such as the American Heart Association.
“The center is vital for the standardization of the skill and competency for the Vinmec physician and technician,” says Dr. Phung Nam Lam, deputy CEO of medical affairs for the Vinmec Healthcare System and director of the AIEC. “But it’s not only for Vinmec, but for the other hospitals in Vietnam. So many hospitals — Vinmec or not Vinmec, international or regional — can benefit from the international standard in this area, so they can improve their competency in this field.”
Dr. Phung Nam Lam
At the moment, most of the training is targeted toward radiologists, cardiologists, and OB-GYN specialists.
The overall goal, says Cindy Kim, director of education and academic programs for GE HealthCare in ASEAN, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, is to close the skills gap in the healthcare industry in Vietnam and keep doctors and other medical personnel up to date on the latest technology.
“With GE HealthCare’s mission to work for a healthier Vietnam,” she says, “we are not only committed to providing the best possible technology to diagnose and treat patients but also make quality healthcare accessible to every citizen of the nation by doing our bit in creating and upskilling the workforce.”
