Buddhists pray online due to COVID-19 outbreak Blood shortage warned as donations postponed due to COVID-19 outbreaks The resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in many cities and provinces in recent weeks has seriously affected the blood supply for medical treatment. Although many people and organisations responded to the call of blood donation by the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) on February 19, the amount of blood received per day was still only a few hundred units while the average need for treatment each day is from 1,200 to 1,500 units. There is usually a shortage of blood during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday as the holiday lasts long while blood has a short shelf life and many patients still need blood transfusions during Tết. This year, the pandemic's resurgence has made the shortage after Tết even worse. Before Tết, 30 entities requested to postpone or cancel blood donation plans which meant the NIHBT missed out on receiving more than 8,000 units. After the holiday, the institute received information about the delay of 24 more blood donation plans from now to the end of March with an expected donation of 5,000 units. In addition, the blood donation schedule in March cannot be confirmed because it depends on the university and college's return to the school schedule. This means the blood reserves of the institute are decreasing. If this situation continues, blood reserves will decrease to an alarming threshold, fell into a state of scarcity and seriously affect the blood supply to health facilities. The Institute’s director Bạch Quốc Khánh said: “The estimated blood demand for emergency and treatment in February and March of the institute is about 50,000 units.” “With blood donation schedules maintained up to now, there was still a shortage of about 20,000 units, seriously affecting the provision of 177 medical facilities in 28 provinces and cities in the north with about 41 million …
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Leverage of funding models imperative for health sector
Hospitals have gained in recent years thanks to improved facilities and more strategic partnerships Nipro Pharma Corporation – Japan’s biggest prescription drug contract manufacturer – has nearly completed procedures to increase investment capital by about $270 million to enlarge its facility at Saigon High-tech Park (SHTP) in Ho Chi Minh City so as to increase production volume. “The procedure completion is expected in the next few weeks, thus increasing Nipro Pharma’s total investment there to $570 million,” a SHTP representative told VIR. “Nipro has performed well since it began investment in the park in 2016.” Nipro Pharma is among the Japanese investors which have strong interest in Vietnam’s healthcare sector. Many more are expanding to and in Vietnam, according to the Japan External Trade Organization. Together with Japan, South Korea and the EU also have more sights set on the lucrative local market. Positive signals The healthcare sector has welcomed new investment inflows in recent times, especially in 2020 when a number of new projects were announced despite pandemic restrictions. Late last year, a consortium led by Singaporean sovereign fund GIC acquired a minority stake in Vietnam-based private hospital operator Vinmec, part of Vingroup, for $203.1 million. The year also witnessed VinaCapital using $26.7 million to acquire 30 per cent stake in Thu Cuc International General Hospital; and British Real Capital London’s launch of the $156 million Hong Anh Medical Campus project in Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to foreign investment, new domestic private capital flows into the sector were also reported during the year. Last January the southern province of Tra Vinh licensed the high-tech pharma project from TV Pharma with initial investment of VND650 billion ($28.26 million). A few months later, the Van Phuc-Saigon Hospital and Hoan My General Hospital projects were also kicked off. Elsewhere, the Long An Obstetrics and Pediatrics …
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HCM City’s Dept of Health develops emergency plan for COVID-19
The plan is being made because of pandemic developments including new variants and outbreaks globally. The department will continue to use available personnel and facilities at designated hospitals for treatment of COVID-19 patients. These hospitals include Cu Chi COVID-19 Treatment Hospital with 300 beds, Can Gio COVID-19 Treatment Hospital with 600 beds, HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases with 40 beds at its Department for Transmissible Diseases D, and the City Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital 2. These hospitals will be ready to increase the number of beds to admit COVID-19 patients and others suspected of having COVID-19 if an outbreak occurs. If the hospitals become overloaded, the department will use Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital’s 464 beds to admit COVID-19 patients. The department has instructed hospitals in the city to prepare doctors and nurses to be available for examination and treatment of COVID-19 patients if necessary. These doctors and nurses will have to receive training in professional knowledge on treatment and control of infections, and ensure safety for medical staff as well as patients. Last year, the Cu Chi COVID-19 Treatment Hospital and Can Gio COVID-19 Treatment Hospital were the two main health facilities isolating and treating COVID-19 patients and suspected cases. This was done to help reduce pressure and risk of transmission at city hospitals. The hospitals’ doctors and nurses came from other hospitals in the city and worked on a rotation system. The department has also instructed the 115 Emergency Centre to continue carrying out its task of transporting COVID-19 patients to designated hospitals for treatment. Hospitals have helped the city Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) to take samples for testing at Tan Son Nhat airport, and bus and railway stations. Besides the Pasteur Institute and the CDC, tests are conducted by the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Children’s Hospital 1, …
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