Attending the meeting from Shonan Kamakura General Hospital were Ms. Motoko Omura, Senior Director of the Department of Radiation Oncology; Dr. Takahiro Shimo, Head of Medical Physics; Ms. Shoko Matsumoto, Head of the International Medical Strategy Office, along with other members of the delegation.

The meeting was held in an open and constructive atmosphere, opening up many prospects for cooperation between the two hospitals

Representing Bach Mai Hospital were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Xuan Co, Director of the Hospital; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Cam Phuong, Director of the Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Center; Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, MSc, Chief of the Hospital Office; along with representatives from the Institute of Medical Training and Research, the International Medical Center, and physicians from the Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Center.

Expanding cooperation following the Memorandum of Understanding

Previously, in November 2025, the two hospitals signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote cooperation in training, scientific research, expert exchange, and the development of advanced medical technologies.

Based on this agreement, both sides have gradually begun implementing specific collaborative activities, particularly in cancer treatment and radiotherapy.

During the meeting, Japanese experts introduced the Tokushukai Medical System, one of the largest private healthcare systems in Japan, comprising 85 hospitals and more than 400 medical facilities.

Founded in 1988, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital currently has 669 beds and 48 clinical departments. It is a multidisciplinary medical center with strengths in cardiovascular medicine, oncology, organ transplantation, regenerative medicine, and robotic surgery.

Access to advanced radiotherapy technologies

In the field of cancer treatment, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital has implemented several advanced radiotherapy technologies such as proton therapy, Tomotherapy (helical intensity-modulated radiotherapy), brachytherapy, and Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT)—a next-generation radiotherapy technique that enables highly precise destruction of cancer cells.

At the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Cam Phuong highly appreciated the advanced radiotherapy technologies currently applied in Japan, including LINAC, VMAT, IGRT, Tomotherapy, IMRT, and Brachytherapy.

Currently, Bach Mai Hospital has already deployed linear accelerator (LINAC) systems and brachytherapy, but aims to continue learning from international experience and accessing more advanced radiotherapy technologies through global collaboration.

The two sides also agreed to implement several areas of cooperation in the coming time

Promoting training and joint research

Dr. Takahiro Shimo, Head of Medical Physics at Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, emphasized the crucial role of medical physicists in the hospital’s cancer radiotherapy system.

According to him, medical physicists are responsible for key tasks such as treatment planning, verification of radiotherapy plans, and quality assurance of equipment and treatment procedures based on international standards. They also participate in research activities related to proton therapy and dose optimization.

The hospital’s radiotherapy quality management system is developed in accordance with international standards from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), and Japanese radiotherapy associations, ensuring safe, accurate, and effective treatment for patients.

Both sides also discussed future collaboration activities, including organizing advanced training programs in radiotherapy and medical physics; exchanging experts; sending medical staff for training and clinical practice; and holding regular scientific seminars and online consultations for complex cases requiring international expertise.

Improving the quality of cancer treatment

Speaking at the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Xuan Co stated that Bach Mai Hospital always places great importance on expanding international cooperation with leading medical centers around the world to enhance healthcare services, medical training, and scientific research.

In the context of the rising demand for cancer treatment in Vietnam, cooperation with leading Japanese medical institutions will help the hospital access modern technologies while strengthening the professional capacity of its healthcare workforce.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Xuan Co presented a commemorative gift from Bach Mai Hospital to Ms. Motoko Omura

The meeting took place in an open and constructive atmosphere, opening up promising prospects for future collaboration between the two hospitals, contributing to academic exchange, the development of advanced medical technologies, and improved treatment quality for patients.