Launched in 2022 with funding from Dragon Capital’s COVID-19 Response Fund, the programme was designed to strengthen intensive care (ICU) capacity across Vietnam by delivering high-quality training for doctors and nurses, fostering international collaboration, and building long-term resilience in the healthcare system.
Strengthening ICU capacity nationwide
Over the course of the programme, OUCRU and partners delivered training to thousands of healthcare professionals across Vietnam, with a focus on critical skills such as mechanical ventilation, advanced dengue care, and continuous renal replacement therapy.
Highlights include:
- Training in Vietnam: More than 500 doctors and nurses from hospitals in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Thap, and the Mekong Delta received Continuing Medical Education (CME)-certified training. Courses prioritized mechanical ventilation – a key need identified after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- International exposure: 10 doctors and 2 nurses undertook advanced ICU training at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in the UK, gaining hands-on experience in one of the world’s leading intensive care units.
- Expert exchange: International ICU specialists from the UK conducted on-site and hybrid training in Vietnam, directly reaching over 600 participants and promoting evidence-based critical care practices.
- Advancing multidisciplinary care: The programme supported the 8th Pacific Conference on Early Mobilization and Rehabilitation in the ICU, held in Ho Chi Minh City in 2024, bringing international experts together with Vietnamese clinicians to emphasize rehabilitation as part of ICU care.
- Knowledge sharing: The European Society of Intensive Care Medicine’s COVID ALIVE course was translated into Vietnamese – the first of its kind – and integrated into WHO training resources.
Building sustainable impact
Beyond training, the programme also supported professional development and research. Vietnamese doctors and nurses presented their work at major international conferences in Spain, Singapore, and the UK, strengthening Vietnam’s voice in the global intensive care community.
Looking ahead
The release of this report marks both the completion of an important chapter and the beginning of new opportunities. OUCRU and Dragon Capital remain committed to supporting Vietnam’s healthcare system, building on the success of this programme to ensure better preparedness for future health challenges.
The full story, with the report, is available on the OUCRU website