The Karolinska delegation included Assoc. Prof. Mattias Larsson from the Department of Global Public Health and Assoc. Prof. Linus Olson from the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health.

Representing Bach Mai Hospital were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Xuan Co, Director of the hospital; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Duy Cuong, Director of the Institute of Tropical Medicine; Dr. Doan Thu Tra, Deputy Director of the Institute of Tropical Medicine; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Ngoc Son, Director of the Intensive Care Center; Dr. Truong Thai Phuong, Deputy Director of the Medical Laboratory Institute; Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam, Director of the Pediatric Center; and Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, Chief of the Hospital Office.

 
Strengthening Mutual Understanding and Expanding New Areas of Cooperation
At the beginning of the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Linus Olson introduced the more than 200-year history of Karolinska Institute, one of the world’s leading medical education and research institutions built upon three core values: innovation, passion, and responsibility.

Ranked among the top 50 medical universities worldwide, Karolinska Institute operates under a “knowledge triangle” that closely integrates research, education, and clinical practice, with strong connections to university hospitals.

He also shared insights into the rigorous and highly structured process of selecting the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which involves multiple independent evaluation stages over several years to ensure the highest scientific standards.

Recognizing Vietnam’s growing role in global medical collaboration, Assoc. Prof. Mattias Larsson expressed his desire to bring the partnership with Bach Mai Hospital to a new stage of more equal and sustainable cooperation.

He noted that to date, 64 Vietnamese researchers have successfully completed their doctoral degrees at Karolinska Institute, and more than 300 joint scientific publications have been produced in areas such as infectious diseases, pediatrics, HIV, and global health — notable achievements reflecting more than two decades of collaboration.

 
Bach Mai Hospital: A Strategic Partner in Medical Training and Research
Speaking at the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, affirmed that Karolinska Institute has long been an important international partner of the hospital in training and scientific research.

He expressed appreciation for the continued support of Swedish experts in developing high-quality healthcare human resources for the hospital.

The hospital director also shared that Bach Mai Hospital receives 8,000–10,000 outpatient visits per day and operates more than 4,000 inpatient beds, generating a substantial volume of medical data. This data serves as a valuable foundation for clinical research, artificial intelligence applications, precision medicine, and clinical trials.

Currently, the hospital is also investing in major infrastructure development projects, including:

The Institute of Tropical Medicine
The Medical Laboratory Institute
Bach Mai Hospital’s second campus in Ninh Binh
The planned Bach Mai University of Medicine and Pharmacy
These initiatives are helping the hospital gradually move toward the advanced academic medical center model widely adopted worldwide.

Toward Deeper Strategic Collaboration
During the open and constructive discussions, representatives from both sides exchanged ideas on several key areas for future cooperation, including:

Academic exchange and training programs at the Master’s and PhD levels
Collaborative research in intensive care medicine, antimicrobial resistance, pediatrics, cardiology, and molecular biology
Technology transfer in advanced laboratory diagnostics to shorten diagnostic time and improve treatment outcomes
The Karolinska delegation highly appreciated the professional capacity and clinical strengths of Bach Mai Hospital and expressed interest in developing a sustainable and equal partnership model suited to Vietnam’s evolving healthcare landscape.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular exchanges and work toward finalizing and signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the near future.

 Expanding International Medical Collaboration
The meeting concluded in a warm and constructive atmosphere, opening new prospects for collaboration between Bach Mai Hospital and Karolinska Institute, Sweden.

This partnership is expected to contribute significantly to improving healthcare quality, advancing medical education and research, and ultimately enhancing comprehensive healthcare services for the Vietnamese population.