Cancer diagnosis

Antibody therapies are offering promising treatment breakthroughs for cancer and other illnesses, generating greater investor interest more than 20 years after they were first commercialised. Antibodies are proteins that recognise foreign substances, known as antigens, attaching themselves to them to alert the rest of the human immune system. In 1975, scientists Georges Koehler and Cesar Milstein discovered how to produce them in a laboratory, which later earned them a Nobel Prize for medicine. Dozens of synthetic antibodies have since been developed. New antibody treatments to be used with chemotherapy have arrived on the scene in recent years. Most recently, a clinical trial of an antibody developed by pharmaceutical groups Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca caught the attention of leading cancer specialists gathered at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual congress in Chicago this month. The treatment, Enhertu, was already authorised for breast cancer patients … [Read more...] about New antibody therapies fight cancer, drum up investment

Tôn Nữ Ánh Tuyết, 72, sits at her small shop in Thủy Xuân Ward, Huế City. Photo plo.vn HUẾ - Tôn Nữ Ánh Tuyết, 72, spends what little profit she makes from selling incense, hats and souvenirs to help cancer patients in Huế City. She is a member of the city’s volunteer group that regularly distributes gifts at Huế Central Hospital. "For a long time, I have not directly delivered gifts to patients at hospital because of leg pain, and I've been busy selling goods,” she said. Tuyến has her own shop selling incense and souvenirs in Thụỵ Xuân Ward. Every day, she wakes up very early to clear goods and arranges bunches of colourful incense in front of the shop. "What I think about every day is how to sell more goods, so that each month there is enough money to help cancer patients in need." She came to this volunteer work after a family member died from cancer. The pain of losing a loved one and the difficulties she had to overcome helped her understand the difficult time the … [Read more...] about Incense seller in Huế helps poor cancer patients with small profit

At some public hospitals in Vietnam, modern medical equipment, whose procurement was covered by the state budget or private firms, has been left idle, while patients are waiting for treatment. The situation will affect such patients and put them at a disadvantage if it lingers. The healthcare sector is facing difficulties as multiple healthcare officials, including the health minister , have faced criminal charges and been in detention for their wrongdoing in medical equipment procurement, suspending the purchase of medical equipment and medicines. Equipment has no fault As a case in point, two robots, named Mako and Rosa, had been used for joint and cranio-cerebral surgeries at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi since 2017. However, the two robots have been suspended and when they will be put to use again is unknown. These two robots are related to a price gouging case at the hospital whose former director was arrested along with many leaders and employees of the robot … [Read more...] about Modern equipment left idle at public hospitals in Vietnam

MAP Life launches a new digital insurance-selling platform to better serve customers in Viet Nam. — Photo courtesy of the company Mirae Asset Prevoir Life Insurance Company Ltd. (“MAP Life”) launched a new digital insurance-selling platform (digital.map-life.com.vn) on June 22. Through the integrated technology, MAP Life introduces an efficient means to apprehend the coverage options and purchase online insurance products for customers in Viet Nam. “Technology enables us to deliver simpler, better customer experience and enables us to connect better with our customers. Our digital platform will not only transform the fulfil expectation of enhancing the customer experience – providing ease, transparency, control and accuracy – but also ensure that customers own the right coverage at the right premium with comprehensive protection benefits,” said Ko Young Wan, chairman of MAP Life. The new platform is part of MAP Life’s development strategy to strengthen its multi-channel … [Read more...] about Mirae Asset Prévoir introduces new digital insurance platform

A health worker sprays chemicals in the central province of Phú Yên. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Health on Tuesday asked localities nationwide to boost dengue prevention and control measures as the number of cases continues to rise, particularly in the south and central regions. This is now considered the peak dengue season, and by June 16, Việt Nam recorded more than 60,000 cases, an increase of 97 per cent compared to the same period last year and about 8,000 cases higher than the previous week. This year, the number of severe dengue cases increased rapidly, much higher than in the same periods of two previous years. More children have also died from dengue fever than adults. In previous years the ratio was switched, with more adults succumbing to the fever. The Ministry of Health forecasts that the number of dengue fever cases will continue to increase in the near future and the disease may break out on a large scale if drastic measures are not put … [Read more...] about Health ministry urged caution as dengue fever outbreak escalates

Providing check-up for a patient (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Grassroots telemedicine solution using 4.0 technology has helped address geographical distance, enabling commune health staff in mountainous areas to seek consultation from their colleagues at the district and higher levels. This enhances people’s access to quality health diagnosis and treatment right at the commune health station and reducing the overloading at district and higher-level health facilities, said participants at a workshop on June 23 on the key results of Phase 2 of the grassroots telemedicine project, jointly implemented by the United Nations Development (UNDP) and the Electronic Health Administration (EHA) under the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Departments of Health of Ha Giang, Bac Kan, and Lang Son provinces. So far, 483 grassroots medical facilities, equivalent to 89.5%, in the three localities have been trained and connected to provide telemedicine for people. … [Read more...] about UNDP helps Vietnam develop grassroots telemedicine

Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency June 23. - Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and National Assembly (NA) deputies of Hanoi met voters in Ba Dinh, Dong Da and Hai Ba Trung districts on June 23 to inform them of the outcomes of the 15th NA’s third session and gather their opinions and requests. The meeting was held both in-person and online formats, drawing 1,225 local voters. Read full story -  Vietnam and Cambodia must further strengthen solidarity, cooperation and mutual assistance to deserve the contributions and sacrifices of previous generations and meet the aspirations and interests of their people, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has stated. Talking to the media on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the two countries’ diplomatic ties (June 24), Son said that the celebration of the anniversary is an opportunity for the two countries' people to review the … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on June 23

Through the "Doctor for Everyone" online platform, health station in Bản Phùng Commune (the northern mountainous province of Hà Giang) is connected to Hoàng Su Phì District's health centre. — Photo courtesy of UNDP/Thanh Hà HÀ NỘI — Technology in remote health centres is helping improve the quality of life for patients living in mountainous areas. Medical staff can instantly talk to other professionals across the country to seek consultation and guidance using the telemedicine system. It’s also helping to reduce overcrowding at health facilities. The system was put in place by the UNDP and Electronic Health Administration under the Ministry of Health (EHA-MOH), the departments of Health of Hà Giang, Bắc Kạn, and Lạng Sơn provinces two years ago. Called “Doctor for Everyone”, the system runs through a smartphone application and has a secure video conferencing. It helps improve the quality of grassroots health service and complements the existing telehealth programme … [Read more...] about Grassroots telemedicine prove effective in mountainous areas

National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ. —VNA/VNS Photo Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Nguyễn Thị Bích Thảo talks to Vietnam News Agency about the official visit to Hungary by National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ, which is scheduled for June 26-28. Could you talk about the meaning and purposes of the official visit to Hungary by NA Chairman Vương Đình Huệ? This is an important visit by a Vietnamese high-ranking leader to deepen the comprehensive partnership and the parliamentarian relations between Việt Nam and Hungary, amid the context the two countries are in a period of economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Việt Nam and Hungary have a history of 72 years of friendship and cooperation in many fields, such as education and training, law and justice, culture, sports and people-to-people exchanges. Hungary considers Việt Nam an important partner in the Southeast Asian region. The two countries established the comprehensive partnership in September 2018, … [Read more...] about Top legislator’s visit to Hungary expected to deepen bilateral ties

Dengue fever is entering its peak in Ho Chi Minh City this year, with the number of cases amounting to 2,181 just last week, up 38.5 percent from the prior four-week average, the city’s Center for Disease Control (HCDC) reported. The total includes 1,182 hospitalized cases and 999 outpatients, an increase of 25.9 percent and 57.1 percent, respectively, the HCDC said. The City Children’s Hospital received 74 child patients, including eight critical cases last week, while the corresponding figures at Children’s Hospitals 1 and 2 were 74 and 8, and 89 and 21, according to the Department of Health. The Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases treated 373 dengue fever cases in the same period, including 264 adults and 109 children, of which 45 were severe. From early this year until last week, the city documented 16,057 dengue cases, up 117.3 percent year on year. There have been nine deaths from the disease this year, a rise of seven compared to last year, Thanh Nien … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City reports sharp rise in dengue fever cases