In the afternoon of February 24^th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh paid a visit and congratulated Vietnam Military Medical University (VMMU) on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors’ Day (February 27^th 1955 – February 27^th 2025).

Attending the meeting were: Nguyen Kim Son, member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Education and Training; Senior Lieutenant General Vu Hai San, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense; Do Xuan Tuyen, Deputy Minister of Health; Le Xuan Dinh, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology; representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office; representatives of leaders and commanders of several agencies of the Ministry of National Defense and officers, doctors of VMMU.

The report presented by Lieutenant General, Professor, Doctor Tran Viet Tien, Director of VMMU at the meeting stated that over the years, VMMU has trained more than 100,000 medical staff, including many children of ethnic minority communities in the Central Highlands, Northwest, and Mekong Delta provinces; and has trained thousands of general practitioners, specialists, masters, doctors, physicians, and pharmacists for Laos and Cambodia.’

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reviews the guard of honor. Photo: Viet Trung

Leaders of the Ministry of National Defense and Vietnam Military Medical University welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: Viet Trung

The scientific research activities of VMMU have achieved many accomplishments with over 3,400 scientific research projects at all levels and more than 2,000 technical innovations. In particular, two clusters of scientific works from VMMU were awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize, namely the Organ Transplantation cluster and the clusters of scientific and technological works in the military and national defense fields. The research products of VMMU have been applied in real life, making significant contributions to the development of the national healthcare sector as well as the mission of protecting and caring for the health of soldiers and the people.

VMMU has applied and developed new and modern techniques to enhance the quality of diagnosis and treatment; focused on investing and developing key specialties, and is the pioneer in successfully performing the first organ transplants on humans in Vietnam. To date, kidney transplantation has become a routine technique with the largest number of transplanted patients in the country, totaling 1,650 pairs. VMMU has assisted the 103 Central Military Hospital of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in carrying out 20 kidney transplants from living donors successfully, helping the neighbor achieve self-sufficiency in kidney transplant techniques.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh makes a speech at Vietnam Military Medical University. Photo: Viet Trung

103 Military Hospital, Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital and the Military Clinical Embryology Institute under VMMU are currently trusted addresses for treatment and health care for soldiers and people.

In addition, VMMU also sends officers and staff to carry out military medical tasks in Truong Sa; effectively implements international cooperation and foreign affairs activities through the construction and training of field hospitals to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping force in South Sudan; participates in rescue and relief of earthquake disasters in Turkey…

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated military doctors in general and VMMU in particular on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors’ Day (February 27^th 1955 – February 27^th 2025). Recognizing and praising the achievements of VMMU, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested that in the coming time, the Ministry of National Defense should direct VMMU to have a long-term development strategy to gradually become a multidisciplinary health university, oriented towards research, training, and research in military medicine leading in Vietnam, aiming to become a regional and international center for training, research, application, and treatment.

VMMU needs to continue to innovate and improve the quality of education and training, develop a team of excellent, leading experts; focus on training high-quality human resources in the direction of approaching and integrating with the world’s advanced science and technology and education. Strengthen basic research associated with promoting the application of modern techniques, high techniques, biotechnology, new materials technology, molecular biology and digital transformation. Focus on breakthroughs in developing modern military medicine and pharmacy to meet the needs of emergency, care and treatment of wounded and sick soldiers, ensuring health care for soldiers and people in the new situation.

At the same time, it is necessary to focus on developing techniques, especially cutting-edge techniques; promote the model of medical examination and treatment facilities in medical education facilities. Standardize mobile military medical units to serve the tasks of emergency, treatment, prevention and control of epidemics, disasters and urgent and sudden situations according to the plan of the Ministry of National Defense. Strengthen and expand international cooperation; actively and effectively participate in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Lieutenant General, Professor, Doctor Tran Viet Tien, Director of Vietnam Military Medical University speaks at the meeting. Photo: Viet Trung

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presents flowers and gifts to congratulate VMMU. Photo: Viet Trung

Focus on building a clean and strong Party Committee of VMMU; continue to effectively implement the military rear policy and the policy for people with meritorious services; continuously improve and enhance the material and spiritual life of cadres, employees, students, soldiers and workers.

The Prime Minister hopes that each cadre, employee, student, soldier and worker of VMMU will promote its tradition, overcome difficulties, strive to complete all tasks well, always remember “knowledge must be complete, morality must be complete, behavior must be exemplary”, contributing to beautifying the image of military doctors and the noble qualities of Uncle Ho’s soldiers.

News: Ngoc Han, Translator: Thu Hien