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Foreign interns learn unique medical skills in Vietnam

Foreign interns learn unique medical skills in Vietnam

Tuesday, January 07, 2014, 10:00 GMT+7

With their high number of patients, small budgets, and innovative doctors, Vietnam’s hospitals provide foreign students with a valuable learning experience

It’s time to learn

Dr Lam Van Hoang, deputy head of Cho Ray Hospital’s endocrinology department, asserts that studying at Vietnamese hospitals allows foreign interns to observe various diseases rarely seen in developed countries.

“In Australia, people go to the hospital early so the patients’ condition is rarely critical, while Vietnamese patients are often too ill to be transported to the hospital for treatment. That was the first time I witnessed a patient suffering from a hemorrhage,” Nguyen Hoang Linh, a Vietnamese-Australian, said, recalling a patient she saw on her first day at Cho Ray Hospital’s emergency department.

Eva Unterpaintner, a student at Germany’s Regensburg University, shared: “I was extremely scared when I saw a patient who had many severe burns all over his body.” The young intern voiced her hope that she would be able to help these patients.

Besides the opportunity to observe rare diseases, foreign interns also learn to work in a place that lacks necessary tools and equipment. According to Dr. Lam Viet Trung, head of Cho Ray Hospital’s digestive surgery department, Vietnamese doctors often try to improvise with medical instruments in order to save money without lessening the quality of the surgery. This helps interns improve their practical skills and flexibility in terms of medical examinations and treatment.

“In Germany, we use a machine to stitch the wound. However, I learned to hand stitch wounds while interning at Cho Ray Hospital,” Eva shared, saying that her skills improved rapidly while studying in Vietnam.

Vietnamese hospitals are often overcrowded, thus doctors must be able to multi-task and work in a stressful environment. Experience in this unique setting enables interns to learn how to work under immense pressure.

“During an 8-hour shift, an Australian doctor only takes care of 8 – 10 patients, while Vietnamese doctors have to examine dozens of patients in that time. They have to work much harder while still ensuring quality,” Linh voiced.

I love Vietnam

Besides the chance to learn in a vastly different environment, Daniel Klaphake, a student of Austria-based Innsbruck Medical University, said the biggest reason he came to Vietnam was his love for the country.

“I wanted to know more about Vietnam. Therefore, I decided to do the internship here as I would be able to meet locals while working,” the medical student shared.

During his time in Vietnam, Daniel observed the great differences between Vietnamese and German culture.

“In the Vietnamese hospital, there were always 2 – 3 people taking care of their sick relative. It’s really interesting. In Germany, the patient is often alone in the hospital because their relatives are too busy to visit them,” Daniel asserted.

The 27-year-old German spent his weekends visiting some well-known tourist destinations like Mui Ne beach, the Mekong Delta, and Can Tho, despite his busy schedule.

“I will return to VN in the near future as it is a wonderful country. Vietnamese are really nice and friendly while the food is delicious. I like “pho” and ‘Wrap & Roll’ dishes. I love Can Tho and its floating market,” Daniel said.

Around 150 foreign interns per year

According to Nguyen Ngoc Bich, head of Cho Ray Hospital’s training center, the hospital started its training course for foreigners in 1999 and it is among the Vietnamese hospitals whose certificates are internationally recognized.

There are around 150 interns from various countries including Australia, Germany, France, Austria, and the US who attend the course each year. 

Dr. Lam Viet Trung, head of Cho Ray Hospital’s digestive surgery department, shared that foreign interns are active in asking questions and expressing their opinions while attending the course. When not working at the hospital, Vietnamese doctors and foreign interns organize activities to get to know each other outside of work.

In 2012, Ho Chi Minh City’s University Medical Center, in collaboration with the VinaCapital Foundation (VCF), organized “Heartbeat Myanmar,” a program that trains Myanmar doctors to perform heart surgery on children.

The program was divided into three phases, in which 9 Myanmar doctors from Yankin Children’s Hospital came to Vietnam to attend a special training course on heart surgery guided by Vietnamese doctors from August 18 to September 14.

Dr Nguyen Hoang Dinh, deputy director of University Medical Center’s Cardiovascular Center, shared: “During the course, Myanmar doctors learned skills  including how to perform cardiac ultrasounds, anesthesia, preoperative diagnosis, resuscitation, and postoperative care. They also learned team-working skills, which are an important factor that help make an operation successful.”

Binh Minh

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