The goal is to help people get diagnosed, treated, and dispensed health insurance drugs right from the front line at health stations, especially for common chronic diseases such as asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)...
The information was shared by Dr. Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health at the scientific workshop "Improving the quality of outpatient asthma - COPD management" and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the asthma and COPD management model in the community (ACOCU) held on June 29.
Commune and ward health stations are important medical units at the grassroots level.
Dr. Vinh Chau assessed that the ACOCU model (network of outpatient management units for asthma and COPD) has saved many patients and improved the quality of life for thousands of people. In 2025, Ho Chi Minh City will continue to develop a network of asthma and COPD care from the grassroots level, based on the lessons learned from the past 25 years of the ACOCU network.
A doctor at a health station is screening the elderly for health problems.
PHOTO: HCDC
"After merging with Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the city's health sector's plan is to continue to strengthen and expand asthma and COPD outpatient clinics at hospitals. At the same time, ward and commune health stations will also be developed as small general clinics, playing the role of primary health care, initial treatment, and patient support, according to the direction of the Ministry of Health, " said Dr. Vinh Chau.
Ho Chi Minh City is piloting a model of coordinated treatment between health stations and upper-level hospitals: health stations will screen and detect early suspected asthma-COPD cases, then refer patients to higher-level hospitals for diagnosis, determine treatment direction, and then bring patients back to the station for long-term monitoring and medication.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has also organized a centralized drug bidding to help medical stations easily supply health insurance drugs to treat chronic diseases. At the same time, in the coming time, it will coordinate with professional associations to organize professional training and provide instructions on appropriate prescriptions to limit expensive treatment costs for patients with asthma and COPD.
Replicating the ACOCU model to commune and ward levels
Associate Professor, PhD - Doctor Le Thi Tuyet Lan, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Clinical Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, shared that the ACOCU model was born in 2000, starting from an outpatient unit at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. After 25 years, the model has developed into a network of more than 250 units in many provinces and cities, helping to reduce hospital overload and save costs for patients.
"We will continue to expand ACOCU to ward and commune levels so that no asthma or COPD patient is left behind," Associate Professor Lan affirmed.
Associate Professor, PhD - Doctor Le Thi Tuyet Lan shares about the ACOCU model
PHOTO: LC
Speaking at the event, Dr. Nguyen Trong Khoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Ministry of Health, acknowledged the remarkable effectiveness that the ACOCU network has brought, from asthma patients participating in jogging to the elderly over 90 still living healthy lives.
Mr. Khoa said that with the administrative merger from July 1, 2025, along with the existing infrastructure and human resources, the goal of having 500 asthma and COPD management units nationwide by 2030 is completely feasible.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tphcm-huong-toi-phat-trien-tram-y-te-da-nang-nhu-phong-kham-da-khoa-nho-185250630151630195.htm
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