October 2, 2023 – Today marks a significant milestone in healthcare collaboration, as AstraZeneca Vietnam Company and the Society of Asthma, Allergy & Clinical Immunology of Ho Chi Minh City (HSAACI) unveil a comprehensive strategic cooperation memorandum. The aim of this collaboration is to enhance the capabilities of medical and community healthcare workers in managing and treating respiratory diseases, with a particular focus on bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from 2024 to 2025.
This collaboration further solidifies the extensive relationship between AstraZeneca Vietnam and HSAACI. Together, the organisations have been pivotal in updating and magnifying the impact of asthma and COPD treatments, resulting in pronounced contributions to community healthcare.
The program’s overarching objectives involve enhancing diagnostic and treatment capabilities for healthcare professionals, along with a robust thrust towards community education. These efforts contribute to raising public awareness about asthma and allergic diseases, encouraging individuals to proactively seek medical advice, and facilitating early detection and treatment.
During the signing ceremony, HSAACI outlined their strategic vision for 2024 and engaged in discourse about refining the society’s initiatives, especially concerning community-based bronchial asthma and COPD management.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thi Tuyet Lan, “The prevalence rate of Asthma in Vietnam1 is 4.1% and COPD1 is 4.2%. of which COPD is the third leading cause of death. Statistics also show an increasing severity trend of these two diseases globally due to the rising number of smokers and environmental pollution. This poses a significant challenge to our healthcare industry. Since the 2000s, I have recognized the risks associated with these disease groups and proposed the establishment of the ACOCU (Asthma COPD Outpatient Care Unit) at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, with the aim of reducing the burden on patients. To date, our ACOCU network has 248 member units nationwide, including 88 units established in collaboration with AstraZeneca Vietnam under the Healthy Lung program.”
In acknowledgment, HSAACI expressed profound appreciation for AstraZeneca Vietnam’s consistent support over the years and voiced anticipation for continued collaboration.
Mr. Nitin Kapoor, Chairman and General Director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, elaborated on the company’s ethos, “AstraZeneca remains unwavering in its commitment to augmenting healthcare accessibility, refining healthcare professionals’ prowess, and uplifting community well-being. By doing so, the resilience of the healthcare system is fortified. The utmost significance is placed on providing care and support to patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I firmly believe that this comprehensive strategic partnership will serve as a significant milestone, symbolizing our long-term commitment and strengthened collaboration towards advancements in the management and treatment of asthma and COPD, benefiting the people of Vietnam”.
The forthcoming year will witness: Regular medical training initiatives with core objectives of updating disease knowledge and fortifying diagnostic and treatment methodologies for HSAACI members.
- Updating knowledge and enhancing diagnostic, treatment, and management skills for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly among members of the HSAACI.
- Strengthening scientific activities and improving the quality of the asthma and COPD management network in existing facilities, while also expanding the network to include additional healthcare establishments.
- Working together in the mission of protecting and caring for asthma and COPD patients, reducing the burden of illness and mortality rates, and aiming towards a healthier community.
Building upon the achievements derived from the collaboration between AstraZeneca Vietnam and the Ministry of Health’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management within the “Healthy Lungs” program, alongside esteemed partners such as the Vietnam Respiratory Society (VNRS), Vietnam Lung Association (VILA), Vietnam Pediatric Association (VNPA), and Association of Asthma – Allergy – Clinical Immunology Ho Chi Minh City (HSAACI), this event helps reinforce AstraZeneca’s commitment and enhance collaboration in alignment with the objectives set forth by the HSAACI.
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About Healthy Lungs program
The Healthy Lungs Program is AstraZeneca’s multinational initiative to improve the quality of outpatient management of Asthma and COPD in 9 Asian countries. Vietnam is one of the first countries to implement this program under the leadership of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Administration – Ministry of Health. The program has been managing more than 170,000 patients, establishing more than 150 standard Asthma and COPD outpatient clinics.
After the success of phase one (2018-2020), the program has entered phase two from 2021 – 2023 with the expansion of the fields of lung cancer and children’s asthma with the participation of 4 specialized associations: Vietnam Lung Association (VILA), Vietnam Respiratory Association (VNRS), Association of Asthma – Allergy – Clinical Immunology Ho Chi Minh City (HSAACI) and Vietnam Pediatric Association (VPS). This new phase also marks the expansion of activities on digital media channels, online events for patients are conducted on two official media channels:
Website: http://vilaphoikhoe.kcb.vn,
Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/vilaphoikhoe.
About HSAACI
Ho Chi Minh City Society of Asthma – Allergy – Clinical Immunology (HSAACI) was established in 2014 under the management of Ho Chi Minh City Medical Association. The society is also the organization that receives and operates the ACOCU network with 25 members of the Executive Committee. Every year, we organize 03 major conferences: global asthma day, global COPD day and annual conference including allergy – clinical immunology and respiratory diseases and more than 50 short-term classes, CME, scientific activities, in addition, HSAACI is also a partner of respiratory projects, large community projects: Healthy Lung, Disease Management Program of the Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City, Research on Hereditary Angioedema (NCGM Hospital – Japan) …
Ho Chi Minh City Society of Asthma, Allergy & Clinical Immunology also cooperates with many other international organizations: WHO, GARD, GAAP, APSR, ERS, ATS, IPCRG, GLI.
Website: Trang chủ (hoihendumdlstphcm.org.vn)
Press release distributed by EloQ Communications.