The U.S. delegation also included Ms. Michelle Yang, Public Health Consultant, and Ms. Sara Klucking, Representative of the U.S. Mission in Bangkok, Thailand. Representing the U.S. delegation in Vietnam were Ms. Lindsay Kim, Country Director of the U.S. CDC; Mr. Minesh Shah, Acting Director of the HIV and TB Program at the U.S. CDC; along with technical staff from the CDC and the U.S. Embassy.

On the Vietnamese side, attendees included Ms. Vu Lan Huong, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Health. Representing Bach Mai Hospital were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Xuan Co, Party Secretary and Hospital Director; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Giap, Deputy Director in charge of professional affairs; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Tung, Deputy Director in charge of professional affairs; along with leaders of institutes, centers, departments, and functional units of the hospital.

Expanding Vietnam-U.S. Health Cooperation

Speaking at the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Xuan Co expressed his honor in welcoming the delegation and affirmed that Vietnam–U.S. health cooperation is currently at its most favorable stage of development. Since 2004, through the PEPFAR program, the United States has given Vietnam special priority in HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

Recalling the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Co shared: “Timely support in terms of experts, technical assistance, equipment, and especially approximately 50 million vaccine doses from the U.S. Government and people through the COVAX mechanism provided tremendous motivation, helping Vietnam’s health sector in general and Bach Mai Hospital in particular overcome the most difficult times.” As a national tertiary hospital, Bach Mai received direct support from U.S. experts in diagnosis and outbreak control, and further disseminated this knowledge and expertise throughout the healthcare system.

Over the years, Bach Mai Hospital has continued to receive support from the U.S. CDC in programs related to HIV/AIDS, microbiology, genome sequencing, equipment upgrades, and professional training. Notably, following the elevation of Vietnam–U.S. relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (September 2023), health cooperation between the two countries has been further strengthened.

“This visit marks an important milestone, reflecting the strong interest of the U.S. Government in Vietnam’s health sector in general and Bach Mai Hospital in particular,” Dr. Co emphasized.

Toward a Substantive and Sustainable Partnership

At the meeting, Ms. Rebecca Bunnell expressed her appreciation for the hospital’s warm and professional reception, while commending its operational scale and the dedication of its healthcare staff.

She noted that the visit marks a new phase in Vietnam–U.S. health cooperation, as both sides are moving toward signing a five-year memorandum of understanding in the areas of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and global health security.

According to Ms. Bunnell, the bilateral relationship is transitioning from a “donor–recipient” model to a “genuine and equal partnership,” reflecting Vietnam’s growing capacity.

U.S. representatives also highly valued Bach Mai Hospital’s role over more than 30 years of cooperation, particularly in HIV/AIDS prevention and control, antimicrobial resistance control, influenza surveillance, and epidemiology training.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital effectively coordinated with U.S. programs and rapidly mastered genome sequencing technology following equipment support, thereby enhancing its capacity for disease surveillance and response to public health threats.

Affirming a Center of Excellence, Looking Ahead

According to Ms. Bunnell, as Vietnam moves toward greater self-reliance in healthcare, Bach Mai Hospital will play a pivotal role in providing scientific evidence and data for policymaking, resource allocation, and improving the efficiency of the health system. She expressed confidence that the hospital will continue to take the lead in adopting advanced medical technologies, not only improving the quality of healthcare services but also advancing toward becoming a regional and global center of excellence.

In response to these positive assessments, and with the close guidance and support of the Ministry of Health, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Xuan Co affirmed Bach Mai Hospital’s commitment to further efforts in realizing strategic cooperation initiatives, expanding research, and promoting technology transfer. The effective implementation of these international cooperation programs will not only enhance the quality of healthcare services for the public but also contribute to ensuring national and global health security, fulfilling the strategic goals entrusted to the hospital by the Ministry of Health.

The visit and working session of the U.S. delegation are expected to open up broader, more substantive, and more effective cooperation opportunities in the time ahead.

Some highlights from the event: