History

2025-05-17 11:05:50

On 3rd June 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed Decision No. 472/QD-TTg establishing the University of Health Sciences as a member university of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), following 15 years of formation and development from its origins as the School of Medicine – VNU-HCM.

15 years may not constitute a lengthy period in the developmental history of an institution. However, this represents a significant milestone enabling the University to reflect upon the decisions, achievements, and individuals associated with its establishment and development throughout the past 15 years.

Addressing a Critical Societal Need

In the early years of the 21st century, corresponding with the socio-economic development of the nation, household incomes and public awareness regarding health protection and care improved considerably, resulting in increased demand for medical services. The healthcare sector developed robustly, achieving numerous significant accomplishments, with many medical facilities undergoing expansion, modernisation, and improvements in examination and treatment quality. However, alongside these positive factors, the health-disease paradigm in our country during this period underwent complex transitions. The burden of disease amongst Vietnamese people entered a dual model stage: infectious diseases and malnutrition (characteristic of underdeveloped countries) remained prevalent, whilst chronic diseases, cancer, trauma, and mental health conditions (characteristic of developed nations) continued to increase.

At that time, the entire country had only 17 universities/faculties providing tertiary-level medical personnel training, predominantly concentrated in the Red River Delta region. Of these 17 medical and pharmaceutical universities/faculties, 11 trained doctors and 4 trained university-level pharmacists, meeting only 60% of the demand for doctors and 40% of the demand for pharmacists, calculated according to the Ministry of Health’s targets of 9 doctors per 10,000 citizens and 2 pharmacists per 10,000 citizens, which were to be achieved by 2020. Preliminary calculations indicated that from 2010 to 2020, the country needed to train approximately 75,000 doctors to meet these targets.

The medical and pharmaceutical universities at that time were under the management of various governing bodies: 11 universities were directly managed by the Ministry of Health, 4 by the Ministry of Education and Training, 1 by the Ministry of Defence, and 1 by the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. Additionally, the Ministry of Health provided professional guidance for the training conducted at 45 Medical Secondary Schools and 13 Health Personnel Training Centres in provinces and cities. The Department of Science and Training reported that the country’s healthcare workforce between 2008 and 2020 would comprise nearly 110,000 individuals. During this period, approximately 12,000 healthcare workers would reach retirement age annually. However, as of 2008, Vietnam’s training system could only supply about 24,500 healthcare personnel per year. By 2010, the country required an additional 6,000 doctors and thousands of pharmacists, nurses, and healthcare workers annually. Preventive medicine alone required over 1,500 university-qualified personnel.

Regarding geographical-economic factors in the southern region, the Central Coast, Central Highlands, Southeast, and Mekong Delta regions constituted 50% of the country’s area and more than 50% of its population, yet in 2009-2010, there were only 5 medical and pharmaceutical training institutions/faculties. Furthermore, most of these institutions lacked affiliated hospitals to ensure autonomy in student practice and scientific research-technology transfer. Only the University of Medicine and Pharmacy had established its University Medical Centre in 2000, developing from a polyclinic model.

Healthcare development at this time required a versatile workforce, increasing in number, appropriate in structure, and ensuring quality. Trained personnel needed to adapt to social and work environment changes and possess the capacity for continuous self-education. Generally, whilst medical and pharmaceutical institutions/faculties nationwide had developed in scale and quality, they still failed to meet the rapid societal development requirements. Thus, establishing additional medical and pharmaceutical higher education institutions in the southern region became essential.

The meeting of the project approval council for the establishment of the School of Medicine – VNUHCM in 2008

Lengthy and Cautious Preparation

Since the very beginning of the establishment of VNUHCM, the policy, and determination to build the School of Medicine and the affiliated General Hospital have been made/adopted and mentioned in the Report on Reviewing and Adjusting the Construction Investment Project of VNUHCM in December 2010. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thanh Binh, Member of the Party Central Committee and Director of VNUHCM (2007–2012) stressed this in numerous meetings to promote the project:

“VNUHCM is not simply a site/destination of development of natural science, social science, or management science, and so on. Human happiness is the last thing the VNUHCM aims at, and health science deserves (adequate) attention. The establishment of the VNUHCM School of Medicine is not an adequate addition to a sufficient “role” as a multidisciplinary and multidisciplinary institution, but first and foremost for public health.”

The Board of Regents of VNUHCM was well aware that the establishment of the School of Medicine is a complicated and tough task because it involves human life. As a result, they were of great caution and deliberation. Such was the intention and aspiration, but how to implement them and what to put the specific actions into practice while there were still many challenges related to money/capital, experience, and manpower. Accordingly, numerous gradual, adequate, and sustainable steps had to be taken. As a result, the first stage of project development only focused on establishing strategic partnerships with local and foreign medical institutions while aggressively utilising the assistance of the Vietnam Ministry of Health and the Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City, and consulting industry professionals. This preparatory procedure took nearly ten years.

When the conditions for the establishment of the School of Medicine – VNUHCM and health sciences were favourable in 2008, VNUHCM began strongly promoting the preparation for the establishment of the School of Medicine by inviting leading experts for further advice such as Prof. Dr. Pham Manh Hung, Former Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Committee, Former Deputy Minister of Health; Prof. Dr. Pham Gia Khanh, Former Director of Military Medical Academy; Prof. Dr. Dang Van Phuoc, Rector of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City; Prof. Dr. Truong Dinh Kiet, Former Vice Rector of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City; Prof. Dr. Vu Duc Moi, Former Deputy Director of Military Medical Academy; Prof. Dr. Hoang Trong Kim, Head of Pediatrics Department of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen The Hiep, Former Director of Center for Training and Nurturing Medical Staff in HCMC; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Thi Nhung, Former Director of Hung Vuong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Van Long, Vice Rector of Hanoi Medical University; Dr. Vu Cong Lap, Former Deputy Director of Military Science Academy; Dr. Second Degree Specialist Nguyen The Dung, Former Director of HCMC Department of Health, and so on.

The School of Medicine and VNUHCM were consistently cautious about significant areas, particularly the later opening of disciplines and establishment of faculties. Opening/Setting up Pharmacy and accepting its students was carried out in 2016 after having fulfilled all requirements for people, programs, and facilities, etc. In particular, it was not until Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Minh Tri, a recognized authority/expert in pharmacy, was allowed by the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City was VNUHCM permitted to establish new disciplines. The first general medicine training course (Med2010) graduated this year as well, which meant that the School of Medicine – VNUHCM completed its first cycle of general medicine training. This gave the School of Medicine – VNUHCM important management and training skills.

Concerns

In order to evaluate the feasibility and science of the project, VNUHCM established a Scientific Council to appraise the project to establish the School of Medicine and Hospital under the VNUHCM under Decision No. November 21, 2008 signed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Thanh Dat.

There were several indications of advantages during the project assessment council meeting while examining the conditions of resources, such as available facilities and the support of system member unit system. However, a number of top specialists expressed numerous reservations as well. Questions centered on how to create an organic teaching team, which hospitals for clinical practice, how to guarantee the quality of training, the requirement for outputs, and how to connect with the national health system. Many people had doubts about the viability of the school’s modular integrated general medicine curriculum because it seemed impossible to implement a cutting-edge innovation program at a single hospital. Even the only unit that applied for the block-based integrated program before was Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy. It returned to the annual training programme in 2012.

Workshop on Curriculum Development for the School of Medicine in 2009

Could the VNUHCM School of Medicine’s bold step be successful?

In his speech at the graduation of the first general practitioners, Prof. PhD. MD. Dang Van Phuoc, the Dean of the School of Medicine from its inception to the present, echoed these hesitations as well: “When Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City established the School of Medicine – VNUHCM, public opinion was not less skeptical, many people considered it to be futile. Even medical students had questions regarding the training program, the worth of the degree, and other topics during the first week of the 2010 class on civic activities. Given the extensive training needed to become a doctor, the initial difficulties were understandable. meticulous planning of compatible equipment, vehicles, and human resources. But over time, with the invested efforts of VNU-HCM, the faculty’s commitment, and the students’ commitment, the School of Medicine – VNUHCM has achieved today’s very proud outcomes.

Difficult first steps…

After being officially established on June 23, 2009, the VNUHCM School of Medicine faced initial difficulties. It saw limited investment resources (state budget, ODA, etc.). As a result, the school was only given a limited amount of recurrent funding each year. Only roughly one billion VND was required to cover the first year’s running expenses. This cost was used to purchase a few sets of tables and chairs, computers, printers, and other necessary equipment. The accommodation’s location and amenities came next. The school’s first closed address was room 601 (now the Department of Administrative Organization). The basic infrastructure hardly supported more than a few individuals. In this year, all expenditures must go through the Office of VNUHCM, all activities must be supported by the member units in the system. Therefore, VNUHCM established an Executive Board of the School of Medicine consisting of five members to run all activities. Specifically, Dr. Nguyen Duc Nghia is/was the Head of the Executive Committee, which could be considered as the first interim Dean, Prof. Dr. Truong Dinh Kiet, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Huynh Thuy Duong are/were the Deputy Head of the Executive Committee.

Prof. PhD. MD. Dang Van Phuoc was invited by VNUHCM to become Dean of the School in 2010. Subsequently, functional departments such as the Office of Administration and organisation; Office of Academic and Student Affairs; Office of Planning and Finance; Office of Facilities and Equipment Management, etc., were gradually established and formed the initial core of the institutional operating system.

The Board of Regents of VNU-HCM appointed MSc. Tran Van Thuan, who was serving as the institution’s deputy chief of office at the time, was the permanent vice dean cum first secretary of the School of Medicine branch in 2011. The Anatomy Practice Area, and the laboratory system, were the most notable of the School’s basic facilities for research and instruction, and MSc. Tran Van Thuan is/was the person who played a significant role in their formation and consolidation. He also established the groundwork for the growth of the trade union and Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union within the Faculty.

Due to development requirements, in December 2012, VNU-HCM’s Board of Regents of the VNUHCM invited Assoc. Prof. Le Van Quang, Deputy Director of Thong Nhat Hospital, Deputy Dean of the Department of Medicine, Deputy Head of the Department of Plastic and Aesthetics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, to hold the position of Vice Dean of the School of Medicine – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to his expertise in surgery, he was also a multi-talented, enthusiastic person, close to medical staff, officials, and students. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, he taught many generations of medical students at medical universities. He is/was considered one of the most dominant keynote speakers/vice deans in communication activities.

In the mid to late 2015, VNUHCM appointed two more Vice Deans, Prof. Dr. Le Minh Tri to develop Pharmacy and Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Kieu to be in charge of administrative activities, facilities and equipment, social work and mass organizations. In January 2017, Dr. Le Nguyen Duc Chinh was appointed as Vice Dean of the School, contributing to the development of external relations, proposing many ideas in building university governance strategies.

In October 2018, the Board of Regents of VNUHCM appointed MSc. Nguyen Hoang Dung, who has extensive experience in business administration, investment, economics and financial strategic planning, as the Permanent Vice Dean in charge of public affairs. Along with the rapid development of the training needs of new professions and satisfying urgent societal needs, Prof. Dr. Hoang Tu Hung was invited to hold the position of Deputy Dean of the School, and be in charge of the Department of Odonto-Stomatology from 1st January, 2019.

Growth from the power of the system

Since its establishment, it can be said that besides perseverance and devotion to the common goal, the strength of the VNUHCM system has helped the School of Medicine overcome many initial difficulties. The working group of VNUHCM for the period of year 2011-2016 headed by the Chancellor of VNUHCM and the leaders of the Office and functional departments jointly participated and had the role of directing and supporting the Dean of the School of Medicine in Medicine. The School of Medicine has thus started to find the organizational structure, the system of units, teaching staff, and the standard framework for the training program just a year after its foundation.

VNUHCM is a key university in Vietnam, a multi-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary university training institution with a large training scale, and a team of scientists and lecturers from member institutions. Teaching students in the School of Medicine – VNUHCM is the responsibility of every faculty member, and not all medical training institutes have such a strong team of basic researchers in the southern region. This capability enables the School of Medicine – VNUHCM to produce competent medical professionals in both clinical and fundamental research.

Departments of Philosophy, History, Language Studies, and Psychology of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities; Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics of the University of Natural Sciences; Center for National Defense and Security Training; Unit of Physical Education of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities; Center for Political Theories (the predecessor of the School of Political and Administration Sciences)… supported teaching students of the SoM –VNUHCM subjects ranging from physical education, English, philosophy, and so on. VNUHCM key laboratories such as laboratories for physiology, biochemical-biological molecular, pharmacology, and micro-parasitic research, and so on are destinations for students from the School of Medicine to conduct their practical experiments.

Regarding VNUHCM Infrastructure, there is already “clean” land available to construct the School of Medicine and a hospital in the planned area in Thu Duc – Di An. In the early years, VNUHCM had its facilities (both the 6th and 7th floors, as well as the 5th floor, and basement) available for immediate teaching, practice, and office work. In particular, the system of civil service residences was operated, which helped to significantly reduce the cost of lodging for both domestic and international experts who traveled to support the development project of the School of Medicine – VNUHCM.

Regarding investment capital: VNUHCM already had its capital for basic construction to establish new training units.

About expertise: Vienna University of Medicine, Austria, is committed to providing professional support and staff training for the School of Medicine – VNUHCM and the hospital staff within the framework of comprehensive cooperation programs.

The School of Medicine – VNUHCM has made outstanding progress based on the foundation and circumstances established after working diligently to create them for almost ten years.

In 2010, the School of Medicine – VNUHCM started to enroll and train students based on the first integrated medical program applied in Vietnam. Research Center for Genetics and Reproductive Health was established and appointed MSc.MD. Ho Manh Tuong as the first Director (until 2017).

In 2011, the Practice Laboratory for Basic Medicine, Practice Laboratory for Medical Skills, and Anatomy Laboratory were officially founded.

In 2012, Advanced teaching method PBL was implemented/adopted.

In 2013, Clinical internships for students at the hospital were introduced. To advance scientific research and technology transfer activities, a comprehensive laboratory for genetic research and reproductive health was inaugurated and put into operation.

In 2014, the code of the facility for continuous training of medical staff was granted.

In 2015, The first module coordination committee for basic subjects was set up, creating favorable conditions for the implementation and coordination with the lecturers of the School of Medicine and the Schools and Centers in the VNUHCM system. The first Scientific Conference of VNUHCM School of Medicine was successfully organised.

In 2016, the first 64 students (intake 2010-2016) graduated, among of whom were 15 students with good academic performance, 44 with satisfactory academic performance, and 5 with average academic performance. In order to continue their advanced studies and work as future full-time lecturers, 12 outstanding students were chosen to work at the School of Medicine. The School of Medicine enrolled students in pharmacy for the first time in 2016 as well.

In 2017, enrollment of high quality General Medicine programme began.

In 2018, the School of Medicine – VNUHCM initially expanded admissions to high-quality medicine program for graduates from the VNUHCM university member whose major is closely related to health sciences. Up to now, the School of Medicine has been the first unit to enroll students to train them to be full-time doctors regardless of their different university degrees. At the same time, 2018 firstly saw the project implementation of the Northwest, Central Highlands, Southwest and key economic regions by the School of Medicine.

In 2019, the School of Medicine formally enrolled first batch of students of the Department of Odonto-Stomatology. The project “Improving the quality of medical doctor training through the application of the Edoopad Platform online teaching platform at the School of Medicine” was completed. Applying 4.0 technology solutions is expected to create many benefits for students, enhancing teaching and learning efficiency.

Since its 10 years of establishment, the VNUHCM School of Medicine has turned that strategic step into encouraging initial results. Building upon this initial success, the School of Medicine continues to consolidate firm progress, creating an important premise for the elevation to the University of Health Sciences.

In 2020, the YA1 administrative building – the first building in the School of Medicine – VNUHCM Practice Hospital planning project – and essential infrastructure for the School of Medicine’s first phase commenced construction. Additionally, in 2020, the School of Medicine – VNUHCM received institutional-level accreditation from the Ministry of Health for its Institutional Ethics Committee in Biomedical Research.

In 2021, the School of Medicine – VNUHCM collective received a commendation certificate from the Prime Minister for outstanding achievements in COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control.

In 2022, the Prime Minister approved the establishment of the University of Health Sciences as a member university of Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, in Decision No. 1122/QD-TTg.

In 2023, the medical training programme received quality accreditation according to AUN-QA standards. This also marked the School of Medicine’s first admission of postgraduate students across five specialisations for First-Level Specialist training and four specialisations for Resident Doctor training.

Towards an Advanced and Prestigious University of Health Sciences in the Region

On 3rd June 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed Decision No. 472/QD-TTg establishing the University of Health Sciences as a member university of Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City.

Associate Professor Dr. Vu Hai Quan, Chancellor of VNU-HCM, stated that since establishing the School of Medicine – VNUHCM (2009), VNU-HCM has consistently aimed to develop this unit into the University of Health Sciences. This represents one of the integral components completing VNU-HCM, helping fulfil its mission of multi-disciplinary, multi-field training and becoming a leading Asian university. After 15 years of formation and development, the School of Medicine – VNUHCM has established a solid foundation regarding training quality, facilities, and human resources. 2024 represents the opportune moment to establish the University of Health Sciences, meeting the demand for healthcare human resources training in the Southeast region specifically and the entire country generally.

The University of Health Sciences – VNUHCM operates according to a university-institute model. The University will apply VNU-HCM’s systemic strengths in natural sciences, technical sciences, social sciences, and management sciences to create training and scientific research products characteristic of VNU-HCM whilst effectively contributing to citizens’ healthcare services.

The university will develop research, innovation, and creativity in high-demand health science fields, including medicine (pathology, therapeutics), pharmacy (drug research and development), modern medical technology and techniques (molecular-cellular biomedical technology, laboratory techniques, medical imaging techniques, biomedical equipment and materials, etc.); and combine research and application deployment of existing interdisciplinary scientific products at VNU-HCM such as molecular-cellular-immunological medical and biological science and technology, nanotechnology, materials, information technology, etc. Additionally, the university will participate in advising on strategic issues, policies, and solutions for health science development for Party and State leadership levels, closely combining training with scientific research and providing scientific-technological services in the healthcare sector.

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University of Health Sciences – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City