Viet Nam increases number of health professionals

The Second Health Human Resources Development Project will further improve the quality of health professional training at each university. A USD3 million grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, financed by the Government of Japan and to be administered by ADB, will support updating of training programs to ensure graduates are better skilled to address community health needs, particularly in disadvantaged settings. The quality of medical staff in remote health facilities will also be enhanced through the delivery of continuing medical education programs using innovative distance learning technologies.

“The project will help Viet Nam achieve its universal health coverage targets by upgrading infrastructure and boosting enrollment at two leading health education institutions,” said ADB Senior Health Specialist Mr. Gerard Servais. “The project’s focus on disadvantaged communities will help Viet Nam address the health care needs of those living in poor and remote areas.”

Viet Nam faces a shortage of skilled health professionals, including an estimated 43,250 doctors, 249,416 nurses, and 22,199 pharmacists by 2030. The project seeks to address one major obstacle: limited physical space and outdated programs at Viet Nam’s health education and professional training institutions restrict the increase in student enrollment and subsequently the number of qualified graduates./.