Vietnam to Establish Three Proton Therapy Centers for Cancer Treatment

The Ministry of Health has announced plans to develop

at three major hospitals across Vietnam: K Hospital in Hanoi, Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, and Hue Central General Hospital in Hue. The investment phase is scheduled to begin in 2025, with the goal of completing these centers between 2026 and 2030.

Proton therapy is an advanced form of

that uses to precisely target . This method minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissues, reduces side effects, and lowers the risk of radiation-induced . It is particularly beneficial for and tumors located near sensitive organs.

In Vietnam, approximately 60% of the nearly 170,000 new cancer cases each year require radiation therapy, with an estimated 5% (around 8,938 patients) specifically needing proton therapy. Currently, the country lacks proton therapy machines, relying instead on 84

that meet only 60-70% of basic treatment needs. To achieve the minimum standard of one radiation therapy machine per million people, an additional 35-40 machines are needed.

The Ministry of Health is also considering proposals for

, prioritizing children and the elderly. For instance, it is suggested that insurance could cover 80% of treatment costs for children and 60% for older adults. This initiative aims to increase cure rates, , and improve patients' quality of life.