At the signing ceremony (Photo: VNA) The Vietnam National Heart Association (VNHA) on April 26 signed amemorandum of understanding (MoU) with US drug firmPfizer Vietnam to partner on the project “PopulationCardiovascular Health” by 2025.
The three-year project aims to improve the healthcareprofessionals’ qualification in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovasculardiseases in elderly patients through interdisciplinary coordination and theeffective use of anticoagulants.
It marks a critical milestone for a long-term collaborationbetween the two parties in the advanced management of cardiovascular patientsand making a positive impact on community healthcare.
Under the MoU, the two parties will support funding to provideupdated scientific evidence and training for healthcare professionalsnationwide through activities such as online training, monthly medicalnewsletters, and intensive hands-on training.
Each activity has elaborately designed content with theparticipation of many leading domestic and foreign experts.
Pham Manh Hung, Vice President of the Vietnam National HeartAssociation (VNHA), said the current demographic shift towards an olderpopulation will be accompanied by a significant increase in the incidence ofcardiovascular disease in Vietnam.
Cardiovascular disease is currently the most frequently diagnoseddisease, remaining the leading cause of death in the elderly.
“Therefore, it is essential for healthcare professionals to updatetheir knowledge and treatment methods to optimize patient outcomes,” Hùng said.
He expects the two parties to create more effective, practical,and sustainable activities, contributing to improving the quality of care andserving patients.
Darrell Oh, General Director of Pfizer Vietnam, said the companyhas always supported Vietnam in addressing the burden of cardiovasculardisease for many years.
Capacity-building programmes on cardiovascular disease managementas well as the appropriate use of anticoagulants in disease treatment not onlyhelp improve the quality of health for the elderly, but also contribute tostrengthening the healthcare system in Vietnam, he said.
“This cooperation will help accelerate the ability of thecountry’s healthcare system to cope with the challenges of an agingpopulation,” he said.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Vietnam isone of the most rapidly ageing countries in the world.
The share of the elderly population increased significantly from8.68% in 2009 to 11.86% 2019, and is expected to reach 16.5% in 2029.
One of the major medical challenges is cardiovascular disease inthe elderly, which has already become quite common.
Cardiovascular disease in the elderly heavily affectsa patient's quality of life, carries a high risk of mortality, and is asignificant economic burden for both individuals and society.
This disease often has comorbidities such as atrial fibrillationwith heart failure, atrial fibrillation with kidney failure, and especiallystroke./.
VNA
