Ho Chi Minh City hospital to put surgical robot into operation

On Thursday, Thu Duc General Hospital held its 2026 Scientific and Technical Conference, featuring discussions on emergency and critical care, surgery, cardiovascular medicine, pharmacy and nursing, as well as plans to acquire advanced medical equipment and further develop specialized key medical services.

Introducing advanced procedures, including robotic surgery 

Thu Duc General Hospital is set to introduce robotic surgery, with a surgical robot expected to arrive next week as part of a VND1.4 trillion ($55 million) investment in medical equipment.

Hospital director Cao Tan Phuoc said most of the newly funded equipment had already arrived or was being delivered, with some additional devices expected next week.

The hospital is seeking support from medical experts and higher-level hospitals to make effective use of the new equipment, particularly in introducing robotic surgery and expanding advanced medical techniques, Phuoc said.

He added that the hospital plans to begin construction of an additional facility in 2027, with an estimated investment of VND1.5 trillion ($59 million). 

The project presents both challenges and opportunities to develop more specialized medical services.

According to Dr. Ho Thanh Phong of the hospital's General Planning Department, its new facility began operations in 2025 with 1,000 beds and modern infrastructure designed to meet high-quality healthcare standards.

Located at the northeastern gateway to Ho Chi Minh City, the hospital provides emergency and inpatient care to residents in Thu Duc and surrounding areas.

In the first nine months of 2026, the hospital handled more than 29,000 emergency cases, up from 25,000 in the same period last year. Emergency admissions related to traffic accidents also increased.

Both inpatient and outpatient volumes rose year on year, with outpatient visits reaching 624,999. The hospital handled an average of 3,000 to 3,600 outpatient visits per day.

The number of vascular interventions increased 41 percent from 2025, with procedures involving blood vessels outside the heart seeing particularly strong growth.

Easing hospital overloads, speeding up emergency care in eastern area

Dr. Ho Thanh Phong said the hospital aims to become a fully developed Grade I general hospital by 2030, under Vietnam's hospital classification system, serving eastern Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces in the southeastern region, with a trauma center as a key component.

The hospital has established a 115 Emergency Center, equipped with a dedicated emergency station and ambulance parking area. 

It currently operates two ambulances to respond to trauma and stroke cases in the region.

Its intensive care unit has been equipped with patient monitoring systems and continuous renal replacement therapy machines to treat critically ill patients. The hospital also focuses on post-trauma rehabilitation.

In coronary intervention, the hospital is expanding its capacity to perform complex procedures, including stent placement and other techniques to treat heart attacks. 

It is also updating its protocols for cerebral vascular interventions, emergency treatment of ischemic strokes, and the management of cerebral vascular malformations.

These efforts are expected to ease pressure on central hospitals and shorten the critical window for emergency trauma care in eastern Ho Chi Minh City.

To support its development plans, the hospital aims to recruit leading medical experts and postgraduate-qualified doctors, while sending specialist teams to major hospitals for training and technical transfers through short- and long-term programs. 

Additional income and incentive policies will also be tied to employees' performance and work outcomes.

The hospital aims to become a trusted healthcare provider for residents in Thu Duc and surrounding areas, while strengthening medical services at Ho Chi Minh City's northeastern gateway.