Roche Pharma Vietnam and HCMC Oncology Hospital Continue to Improve Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Capacity in Vietnam

On March 25, Roche Pharma Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital (HOH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve the professional capacity of medical staff at the hospital and strengthen cooperation with domestic and foreign oncology organizations and experts for the benefit of patients and the community. The MoU is an important progress in the mutual cooperation for improved cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The latest figures from the International Agency for Research on Cancer show that there are about 182,500 new cases of cancer in Vietnam, resulting in 122,690 related deaths. This means, for every 100,000 people, 159 are newly diagnosed with cancer while another 106 people die from the disease.

Vietnam’s new cancer incidence rate has increased nine ranks to 90th out of 185 countries as the number of new cases rose from 165,000 in 2018 to 182,000 in 2020. Likewise, the country rose six places on the mortality index to 50th out of 185 over the two years. These figures show rapid increases in both new cases and deaths from cancer in Vietnam.

To contribute to Vietnam’s fights in cancer prevention and treatment, Roche Pharma Vietnam and HOH signed the MoU to improve diagnostic and therapeutic capacity, treatment and patient support, while also promoting the exchange of experiences among international organizations, the implementation of key projects on breast and liver cancer, as well as building a database for the treatment and care of patients.

Dr. Pham Xuan Dung, HOH’s director said, “Cancer is one of the key health issues facing Vietnam. Combating it requires strong cooperation across the entire health sector to develop a multi-dimensional and synchronous intervention solution, both to raise public awareness and strengthen the capacity for diagnosis and treatment to reduce the financial burden on patients, their families, and society as a whole.”

Dr. Dung added that as the central location for cancer prevention and treatment, HOH was ready to cooperate with partners like Roche Vietnam to enhance oncology treatment across the board, from diagnosis to follow-up treatments and aftercare.

“The MoU and our cooperation with Roche Vietnam not only benefit the hospital’s medical staff but also help improve the understanding of cancer in the community, helping us to provide comprehensive care for patients.”

Lennor Carrillo, general director of Roche Pharma Vietnam shared, “This partnership reasserts Roche Pharma Vietnam’s long-term commitment to address challenges in diagnostic capabilities and cancer treatment in Vietnam. As a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics for more than 125 years, we are always ready to share the latest and most advanced innovations and experiences with our partners to improve the quality of diagnosis, treatment, and patient care, as well as reduce the social burden associated with cancer.”

The newly signed MoU includes the following targets:

• Improving the capacity and experience of medical staff in diagnosis, treatment, and care for cancer patients through training and professional exchange programs, domestic and international events, and scientific activities inside and outside the hospital.
• Connecting, integrating, and participating in cooperation activities with domestic and international agencies and organizations in the field of oncology through conferences, as well as supporting the publication of medical articles in relevant international journals.
• Establishing and implementing patient and community-oriented activities through patient education and support programs.
• Increasing access to advanced therapies for high-risk breast cancer patients by 2025, in accordance with the scheme signed between the Ministry of Health and the Vietnam General Medical Association.
• Developing the liver cancer project chaired by the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment.
• Performing research to collect data for treatment and care, including multinational research as well as the hospital’s own activities.

Previously, Roche Vietnam and HOH implemented the project titled “Enhancing access to advanced therapies for high-risk breast cancer patients in 2020-2025” at the hospital level. Last year, HOH carried out a series of breast cancer awareness raising programs for the community, coupled with screenings for women over 40 and others in high-risk groups. The project also included training and professional development programs for multimodality treatment of breast cancer, and the strengthening of the clinical research capacity at the hospital.

B.H (Vietnam Business Forum)