Hanoi (VNA) – A ceremony washeld in Hanoi on December 18 to see off 14 freshly-graduated doctors of theHanoi Medical University (HMU) to work in Vietnam’s mountainous and remoteareas.

It is part of the pilot project to sendvoluntary young doctors to disadvantaged areas, including border and islandlocalities and especially focusing on 62 poor districts around the country.

Speaking at the event, Minister of HealthNguyen Thi Kim Tien said the project is a breakthrough for the health sector inensuring skilled personnel and meeting the healthcare demand of people indisadvantaged localities.

It also helps local people gain access tobetter healthcare services, while reducing overload in central hospitals andwastefulness, she added.

She also asked cities and provinces to joinhands with the health ministry to devise incentives for skilled and efficientmedical staff, thus attracting more personnel to work in the localities.

Tien voiced her hope that the project willbe a success with the close cooperation of ministries, departments and localities,along with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Youth Federation.

The 62 poor districts are currently in needof nearly 600 doctors in 15 areas of specialty.

Launched in February 2013, the pilotproject aims to ensure the sustainability of skilled medical staff, with a viewto sending more than 300 young doctors to work in disadvantaged districts by 2020.

The project has provided training coursesfor 300 doctors in 11 areas of specialty over the last two years.

Also on December 18, the HMU held aceremony to start a course for 32 aspiring doctors who will be sent to work inimpoverished districts in the northern provinces of Lao Cai, Cao Bang, LangSon, Ha Giang, Dien Bien, Bac Kan, and Tuyen Quang. –VNA