Finalizing the policy framework and guidelines on establishing medical oxygen systems

On October 16, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management ( Ministry of Health ) and PATH Organization in Vietnam held a workshop to summarize the project "Increasing the use of medical oxygen and the respiratory care ecosystem in Vietnam".

The project “Enhancing the use of medical oxygen and the respiratory care ecosystem in Vietnam” (SOURCE Project) is jointly implemented by the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management and the Department of Infrastructure and Medical Equipment (Ministry of Health) and PATH (with support from the Gates Foundation) in the period 2023-2025 with the goal of helping people in need to access necessary medical oxygen sources.

The SOURCE project aims at a safe and sustainable medical oxygen ecosystem, focusing on implementing the following main components: Completing the policy framework and issuing the National Guidelines on establishing medical oxygen systems for medical examination and treatment facilities (issued by the Ministry of Health under Decision No. 2747/QD-BYT dated August 27, 2025). This guideline is a unified technical basis, helping nearly 13,000 medical facilities nationwide design and operate oxygen systems suitable to their needs, human resource capacity or geographical location, with cost-effectiveness.

Up to now, the online medical knowledge update training platform (E-learning) on respiratory resuscitation with 57 multi-format lectures (documents, videos , SCORM interactive exercises) for medical staff nationwide has also been completed. The E-learning platform is integrated with a student management system, supports the issuance of online continuing education certificates and aims to be widely deployed in the near future. More than 125,000 doctors and millions of patients will benefit from this training program.

The implementing units also conducted research on the rate of patients with hypoxemia and the need for medical oxygen consumption of patients, helping medical examination and treatment facilities, the Ministry of Health, local Departments of Health, and oxygen suppliers in developing and implementing plans to ensure supply, strengthen technical infrastructure, and effectively allocate resources to ensure access to oxygen when needed.

The Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, PATH Organization in collaboration with the Department of Health of Quang Ninh province conducted a study at 3 hospitals, monitoring more than 6,000 patients. This study was conducted methodically, following a strict scientific research process and providing the first systematic and valuable data in Vietnam on the current status of patients with hypoxemia and the need for medical oxygen consumption in treatment and in hospitals.

Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, said: The SOURCE project has achieved its objectives, from improving the quality of human resources, providing clinical evidence on the status and demand for oxygen use and related indicators, to forming national guidelines on operating medical oxygen systems and promoting digital transformation in governance. The products that the Ministry of Health, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management and PATH have deployed in the past are currently being used effectively and will continue to promote their value in the coming time, contributing to improving the quality of medical examination, treatment and governance in the field of medical examination and treatment.

Hoang Mai

Source: https://nhandan.vn/hoan-thien-khung-chinh-sach-va-huong-dan-ve-thiet-lap-he-thong-oxy-y-te-post915730.html