This "super CT scanner" Somatom Force VB30 from Siemens Healthineers (Germany) - the world's leading country in cutting-edge medical technology, was first deployed in Vietnam at Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi in February 2025.
After only 4 months, the "second super machine" has arrived at Tam Anh Medical Center in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, promptly serving the demand for high-quality medical examination and treatment that is expected to increase dramatically when Ho Chi Minh City expands into a "super city".
The Board of Directors of Tam Anh General Hospital, Representative of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany and Representative of Siemens Healthineers at the Launch Ceremony of the Somatom Force VB30 CT Scanner.
Currently, this super CT machine is rare in the world , only available at a few leading medical centers in the US, Germany, the Netherlands... with the latest version, full functions and genuine, specialized software like this generation of machines at Tam Anh Hospital.
Speaking at the launch announcement, Dr. Ho Hoang Phuong - Director of the Center for Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that this "super CT machine" is the pinnacle of CT scanning technology, the clearest and fastest ever in the EID receiver CT technology group, with the maximum number of slices and the slices that do not need to be reconstructed are extremely thin, only 0.4mm. The super machine takes a super-fast full-body scan in one go, helping to accurately detect abnormalities, suggesting very early microscopic lesions of only a few millimeters on the body.
Thanks to that, the super machine helps doctors identify and distinguish very early tumors, stroke risks, blood clots, atherosclerotic plaques, narrowed, blocked, aneurysmal blood vessel locations, abnormalities or damage in the liver, lungs, heart valves, heart muscle, bones and joints, urinary stones, etc.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Christopher Scholl - Deputy Consul General, Representative of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Vietnam, commented: “Today's event demonstrates Tam Anh General Hospital's commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and advanced, high-quality medical services for the people of Ho Chi Minh City and many other regions. The cooperation in providing these leading modern medical equipment also aims to exchange knowledge and achieve excellence in clinical practice with the ultimate goal of improving the standards of healthcare in Vietnam”.
Mr. Christopher Scholl, Deputy Consul General, Representative of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, spoke at the ceremony to announce the operation of the Somatom Force VB30 CT scanner.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hien - Director of the Center for Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi , said that the application of high-tech equipment in disease screening and diagnosis is very important, bringing great benefits to patients when prescribed at the right time, suitable for each health condition. At Tam Anh Hospital, Hanoi, in just 4 months since its inauguration, more than 4,500 cases have been screened and diagnosed early for dangerous diseases using the 100,000-slice super CT machine, from liver cancer, lung cancer, risk of stroke, cerebral vascular malformation, coronary artery stenosis, heart valve disease, dangerous heart muscle...
The 100,000-slice "super CT machine" is capable of early diagnosis of dangerous diseases such as liver and lung cancer, risk of stroke, cerebral vascular malformations, coronary artery stenosis, heart valve disease, myocardium...
The journey of the “super CT machine” to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City of Tam Anh Hospital demonstrates the aspiration and determination to contribute to raising the level of healthcare in the country, helping people in the country access high-tech healthcare on par with the world at a reasonable cost. In the context of many provinces and cities merging, especially Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau forming “super cities” with the largest area and stature in Southeast Asia, healthcare also needs to strive, ready to respond commensurate with that stature.
In a conversation with Dan Tri reporter, Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Nguyen Xuan Hien commented that the two super CT Somatom Force VB30 machines that Tam Anh Hospital put into use in Vietnam can be considered a revolution in the field of diagnostic imaging.
In the long term, mastering world-class medical techniques, constantly improving expertise and service quality will be the strategy for Vietnam to become a bright spot on the medical map.
The journey to bring super CT scanner to Vietnam
How did the journey to bring the world's most modern CT scanner to Vietnam take place?
- An advanced device like Somatom Force VB30 requires a very strict implementation process, from import, installation, quality control to operation. We have worked closely with Siemens Healthineers, to ensure the device is operated according to international standards from day one.
Regarding human resources, because this is a new technology, training of doctors and technicians is a very important factor.
After the system was installed, experts from Siemens were present at Tam Anh General Hospital for many weeks to provide direct guidance, helping the team operate proficiently.
This process is not simply about learning how to use the machine, but also includes in-depth practice in coronary angiography, cancer screening, 4D CT scan to assess cerebral perfusion, etc., to ensure that the team not only masters the equipment but also optimally exploits all the modern features of the system.
The 100,000-slice CT "super machine" serves screening and diagnosis for the first residents of Ho Chi Minh City on the day of its official launch.
An important factor is that Tam Anh General Hospital continuously updates advanced medical technologies, helping the staff have a solid foundation when approaching Somatom Force VB30.
Thanks to that, although it is new technology, after a short time, our team was able to use it proficiently, providing the best service to patients.
We also establish standard operating procedures, optimize scan times and ensure maximum patient safety.
Initially, patient preparation time could take 15-20 minutes, but after a period of operation, we have shortened it to only 10-12 minutes per scan, increasing patient service capacity while still ensuring image quality.
Investment in health care needs to take into account humane and sustainable factors.
With such a modern device, is the cost of the scan a barrier for patients?
- One of the things we considered very carefully when investing in this technology was how to make it accessible to patients at a reasonable cost, while still ensuring sustainable operations.
Currently, the cost of a CT scan using the Somatom Force VB30 machine at Tam Anh General Hospital is only from 2.5 million VND. This price is calculated to suit the conditions of domestic patients, while ensuring operating costs.
Compared to the cost of conventional CT scans, this price is a bit higher, but compared to patients having to go abroad to get scans with equivalent technology, the cost in Vietnam is only about 1/10.
With such a large investment, what is the hospital's roadmap to ensure financial stability and capital recovery?
- Regarding the ability to pay back capital, this is a long-term problem. For healthcare, investing in technology is not only to create profits but more importantly to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment, creating sustainable value.
When patients can detect the disease earlier, treatment is more timely.
This not only helps save costs for people but also helps the domestic healthcare system develop, retain domestic patients and attract international patients.
In addition, thanks to its fast shooting speed and ability to significantly reduce X-ray doses, the machine can be applied to more subjects, from screening for whole-body diseases to supporting cancer patients in monitoring treatment response. This is a factor that helps optimize the machine's operating capacity, helping the hospital serve more patients every day.
"Super CT machine" reduces radiation dose to the maximum, safe for both children and people with complex underlying diseases.
The nemesis of hidden diseases
After being put into operation, how do you evaluate the effectiveness of CT Somatom Force VB30 in clinical practice?
- In just a short time of operation, we have received thousands of patients coming for imaging with diverse needs, from cancer screening, cardiovascular examination, to brain damage assessment.
Clinical practice shows that the Somatom Force VB30 CT machine has helped detect many complex pathological cases, including cases that are difficult to detect early with old diagnostic methods.
For example, a 55-year-old male patient presented with transient chest pain, but no abnormal electrocardiogram findings.
When we used the Somatom Force VB30 CT scan, we discovered that the patient had a 90% narrowing of the coronary artery, requiring immediate intervention to avoid the risk of myocardial infarction. Previously, such cases would have required further testing or waiting until symptoms became more apparent.
In the field of oncology, we have also had patients with no symptoms but when screening whole body scans, small tumors of only a few millimeters in the liver and lungs were detected. Without high-resolution CT, these lesions may not be detected in time, the patient will miss the best treatment stage.
A typical case is a 50-year-old male patient with a 20-year history of high blood pressure but no obvious symptoms.
When performing a whole-body CT scan using the Somatom Force VB30, the system detected an adrenal tumor measuring only 7mm. After consultation, the patient underwent early surgery, preventing the risk of the tumor developing into a malignant tumor.
These cases are clear evidence of the important role of early diagnosis in the treatment of dangerous diseases. Thanks to modern CT technology, we can intervene promptly even when the disease has not yet shown serious symptoms.
Technology: The core factor to elevate Vietnamese healthcare
- The determination to master the Somatom Force VB30 machine can partly reflect the consistent orientation in the medical investment strategy of Tam Anh General Hospital?
That's right. Tam Anh General Hospital always identifies medical technology as not only a supporting tool but also one of the decisive factors in improving the quality of medical examination and treatment. In fact, it can be seen that modern medicine has made great strides thanks to technology.
Tam Anh General Hospital always strives to bring high technology to contribute to the health care of Vietnamese people to reach the regional level.
Representatives of the German Consulate General and guests listened to an introduction to the CT machine with more than 100,000 slices at Tam Anh Hospital.
One of our focuses is early diagnosis and preventive medicine, because the earlier a disease is detected, the greater the chance of a cure.
With systems like the CT Somatom Force VB30, we can screen for cancer at very early stages, detect coronary artery stenosis before a heart attack occurs, or assess stroke risk before a patient has any symptoms. These are groundbreaking applications that save lives and significantly reduce the burden of disease on society.
Another problem that technology can solve is reducing hospital congestion and optimizing examination times. With the support of artificial intelligence (AI), electronic medical records, and diagnostic support software, we are gradually reducing waiting times, helping patients to be examined and treated faster while still ensuring high accuracy.
In your opinion, what are the factors that make Vietnam a bright spot on the regional medical map?
- To make Vietnamese people no longer have to go abroad for medical treatment, and on the contrary, foreigners see Vietnam as a reliable medical destination, in my opinion, is a story at the macro level, with the decisive role of very high management levels.
However, looking from the grassroots, as a physician with 30 years of experience in the industry, I think we must have really good expertise and at the same time gradually improve equipment.
Technicians monitor the scanning process with a "super CT machine" with more than 100,000 slices through images clearly displayed on a computer screen.
Doctors themselves must participate in this process. We must advise patients very clearly: What can be done, what cannot be done. Because many patients think that going abroad will always be better.
In terms of expertise, we think we are not inferior to other countries in the region. In some areas, we are even better. To do well in the medical field, we need experience. There are diseases where our doctors treat several hundred cases each year, while in other countries, there are only a few cases.
In terms of expertise, we think we are not inferior to other countries in the region. In some fields, we are even better.
We also need to continue investing in infrastructure, improving service quality and promoting international cooperation. If we do well, I believe that in the next 5-10 years, Vietnam will become a bright spot on the regional medical tourism map.
According to a representative of Siemens Healthineers Vietnam, Vietnam is one of the first few countries in Southeast Asia to own the "super machine" CT Somatom Force VB30.
The machine operates based on two sources with super fast scanning speed, scanning the whole body in just 1-2 seconds.
With each ultra-thin slice, the "super machine" CT Somatom Force VB30 is capable of separating and "visualizing" extremely small abnormalities and lesions of a few millimeters.
This super machine also applies the most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) today. The most modern ALPHA and Fast Phase technology automatically marks and analyzes human body anatomical landmarks, helping doctors quickly determine the location of organs, soft tissues, bones, blood vessels, etc., minimizing subjective errors. AI also supports doctors in choosing the appropriate scanning area and number of slices to avoid wasting time and money.
According to the American Medical Physics Association, Somatom Force VB30 is one of the CT systems with the lowest X-ray dose. The technology reduces X-ray dose by up to 85% compared to conventional CT.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/benh-vien-tam-anh-van-hanh-sieu-may-ct-chao-don-sieu-do-thi-tphcm-thoi-dai-vuon-minh-20250702161343336.htm
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