Study Tour Vietnam Holland

Tour of medical institutions

Rectors of several medical universities in Vietnam as well as delegates of several ministries made a tour round a number of Dutch medical faculties and health care institutions. They also exchanged ideas with a number of Dutch policymakers in The Hague.

Learning from each other

During the kickoff in the Nijmegen auditorium at Kapittelweg, Mr Bart van Bergen, tour organiser, made clear what the Vietnamese delegation could expect to learn: ‘Holland has a lot of knowhow in the field of health care and education management. Vietnam is often said to have hospitals and universities that are reminiscent of the Dark Ages. Although the situation is not that bad, a lot of work will still have to be done to bring the quality of Vietnam's hospitals and universities to an acceptable standard.’ Of course, this is easier said than done, a fact Van Bergen is only too aware of: ‘In our country the whole matter has been a gradual process that allowed us to deploy a lot of different means. In Vietnam, however, educational and health care reforms have to be done in a much more hurried pace, without the supporting means we had at our disposition. In Holland we are managing excess; over there they are managing shortage. The Vietnamese delegation showed much interest in the difference between academic hospitals and ‘common’ hospitals. Which organizational structure fits best to which type of hospital? ‘A great physician doesn't necessarily have to be a great manager!’ said Van Bergen.

Evaluation

The Vietnamese delegates have returned to their own country by now. Van Bergen will leave for Vietnam this November to evaluate the whole matter thoroughly and to initiate projects that need to contribute to the development of a professional health care system in Vietnam.