The University of Sydney delegation included Professor John Prins, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health; Professor Annemarie Hennessy, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health; Professor Nguyen Thu Anh, Deputy Director and Executive Director of the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute; and Ms. Pham Ngoc Yen, Director of the Clinical Trials Unit.

Representing Bach Mai Hospital were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Giap, Vice Director of the hospital; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thu Phuong, Director of the Respiratory Center; Dr. Nghiem Trung Dung, Director of the Center for Nephrology, Urology and Dialysis; Dr. Hoang Viet Anh, Deputy Director of the Center for Healthcare Quality Management; along with representatives from the Institute of Training and Research in Medicine and Pharmacy and the Hospital Office.

A Long-Standing Academic Partnership
During the meeting, Professor John Prins expressed his strong impression of the scale, professional capacity, and academic reputation of Bach Mai Hospital, one of Vietnam’s leading medical institutions.

He noted that the two organizations have maintained a long-standing partnership, particularly in the fields of infectious diseases and clinical medicine, with several collaborative projects implemented successfully over the years.

Professor Prins also highlighted that both sides are facing similar healthcare challenges, including hospital overcrowding, the rising burden of chronic diseases, population aging, and limited healthcare resources. In this context, expanding collaboration in research and medical training would bring significant benefits to communities in both countries.

 
A Model for Sustainable International Medical Collaboration
Sharing the same perspective, Professor Annemarie Hennessy highly appreciated the more than 15 years of collaboration between the University of Sydney and Bach Mai Hospital.

She emphasized that the sustainability of this partnership stems from the dedication and commitment of healthcare professionals, describing it as a model example of international medical cooperation where knowledge, compassion, and responsibility go hand in hand.

Professor Hennessy also praised the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute, which operates under a co-leadership governance model, describing it as a strong example of sustainable collaboration between medical education institutions.

 
Expanding Cooperation in Training and Research
On behalf of the hospital’s leadership, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Giap expressed his pleasure in welcoming the delegation and affirmed Bach Mai Hospital’s interest in expanding cooperation with the University of Sydney in scientific research, professional training, and student exchange programs.

He also shared that the hospital is currently working toward the establishment of the Bach Mai University of Medicine and Pharmacy, with a vision of integrating academic training with clinical practice.

In this process, the hospital hopes to learn from the experience of the University of Sydney, one of the world’s leading institutions in Training of Trainers (TOT) programs and practice-oriented medical education.

During the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Giap also introduced several notable achievements of the National Hypertension Control Program, which has been implemented in 32 out of 34 provinces and cities based on clinical guidelines developed by Bach Mai Hospital.

In addition, the hospital is proposing a community-based kidney disease screening program, aiming to promote early detection and timely treatment while reducing the burden on tertiary healthcare facilities.

 
Toward New Prospects for Vietnam–Australia Medical Cooperation
Representing the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute, Professor Nguyen Thu Anh emphasized that the partnership between the two institutions provides a solid foundation for implementing training programs, strengthening research capacity, and developing academic curricula for the future Bach Mai University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Both sides agreed on a shared vision of enhancing research capacity and translating scientific findings into practical healthcare applications, enabling people to access quality medical services starting at the primary healthcare level.

The meeting concluded in a friendly and collaborative atmosphere, opening new prospects for medical cooperation between Vietnam and Australia, with the shared goal of improving medical education, research capacity, and community healthcare services.