Enhancing diagnostic capacity in managing common diseases at primary healthcare facilities: kickoff meeting and training workshop

Vietnamese version

HAI PHONG, JUNE 21, 2023 – The highly anticipated kickoff meeting and training session for the “diagnostic capacity building for management of common diseases at primary healthcare (PHC) in Viet Nam” project, led by FIND, took place from 14–16 June in Hai Phong city, Viet Nam.

The event saw the participation of esteemed healthcare professionals, including Dr Tran Quoc Trinh, MD – Specialist Level II, Vice Director of the Hai Phong Provincial Department of Health; Dr Tang Xuan Khoa, MD – Specialist Level II, Director of the Hai Phong Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC); Dr Khong Huu Cuong, MD, MSc, Director of Vinh Bao District Healthcare Center (DHC); and Dr Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Head of FIND Viet Nam.

The event also welcomed project external clinical experts, coordinators, clinical and laboratory experts from Hai Phong Provincial Department of Health, Hai Phong Provincial CDC, and FIND Viet Nam, along with over 50 representatives from implementing units including Hai Phong Provincial CDC, DHC, and 10 commune health stations (CHS) in Vinh Bao district, Hai Phong city.

This initial session marks the beginning of a comprehensive training program for the 43 selected healthcare facilities participating in the project, encompassing Hai Phong Provincial CDC, Vinh Bao and Thuy Nguyen DHCs and 40 CHSs in Vinh Bao and Thuy Nguyen districts in Hai Phong city.

The participants demonstrated their resolute commitment to jointly enhance the supported activities facilitated by FIND and engaged in fruitful discussions on solutions and strategies to achieve the objectives of the project. This project once again underscores the efforts of FIND in strengthening diagnostic capacity at the grassroots healthcare level, ultimately improving access to essential diagnostics for the population, particularly in rural areas, while bolstering the quality of common diseases management and surveillance at the PHC level.

A thorough evaluation of the feasibility of this model and impact will be conducted at the of the project to inform potential scale-up initiatives.

During the training session, primary healthcare workers were equipped with comprehensive knowledge encompassing diagnostic testing, as well as patient counseling, treatment, and management in case of detection. Specifically, precise guidance was provided on patient screening protocols, sample collection and management, and addressing healthcare inquiries.

The technical experts of FIND also imparted essential training to familiarize healthcare workers with the YTCS software (ytcs.vn) to support project activities. Furthermore, healthcare workers at the PHC level were engaged in simulated scenarios to ensure a thorough understanding of the new knowledge and techniques, and to be proficient in implementing the project.

“We firmly believe that quality diagnostics form the bedrock of quality healthcare services,” asserted Dr Nguyen Thi Van Anh. “By enhancing the diagnostic capacity of PHC, we can alleviate the burden on higher-level healthcare facilities and improve disease surveillance, enabling us not only to detect diseases at an early stage but also to design targeted interventions to halt their spread.”

Among the significant highlights of the event was the unwavering commitment and determination of the stakeholders, particularly of the leadership of Hai Phong Provincial Department of Health. “The local authorities in Hai Phong have consistently shown their commitment to investing in the grassroots healthcare system, particularly the CHSs. However, challenges persist, with a disparity between current capacity and desired outcomes.

While the DHCs have been generally equipped adequately for PHC services, CHSs still face difficulties, particularly diagnostic testing equipment. Reliance on clinical symptoms for diagnosis limits the effectiveness of medical examinations and treatment. Therefore, enhancing the diagnostic capacity of PHC is an imperative and objective requirement to improve the quality of managing and delivering primary healthcare services for the community,” emphasized Dr Tran Quoc Trinh – Vice Director of Hai Phong Provincial Department of Health.

This auspicious start sets the stage for forthcoming training programs at other project sites and establishes a solid foundation for the smooth implementation of subsequent project activities when reaching the general population.