The shining example of medical ethics from Nghe An province - Part 3
In recent years, the Nghe An Health sector has made rapid and remarkable progress in professional development. This stems from the fact that medical staff have continuously pioneered innovation and research in applying scientific and technical advancements to improve the quality and effectiveness of treatment for patients. Notable examples in this innovation and research movement include People's Physician Pham Vinh Hung and Specialist Doctor Nguyen Van Khanh.
Final lesson:
Creative "v"For the health of the people"
In recent years, the Nghe An Health sector has made rapid and remarkable progress in professional development. This stems from the fact that medical staff have continuously pioneered innovation, research, and application of science and technology to improve the quality and effectiveness of treatment for patients. Notable examples in this innovation and research movement include People's Physician Pham Vinh Hung and Specialist Doctor Nguyen Van Khanh.
Research and innovation for the benefit of patients.
With the motto "Every scientific research project and every technical solution applied to practical examination and treatment contributes to helping patients benefit from advanced medical achievements, reduce treatment costs, and alleviate economic burdens," for many years, People's Physician Pham Vinh Hung - Deputy Director of Nghe An Oncology Hospital - has continuously promoted research and application of science and technology in medical examination and treatment.
As a leading figure in the scientific research and professional development movement at Nghe An Oncology Hospital, over the past 13 years, People's Doctor Pham Vinh Hung and his colleagues have contributed to 26 scientific projects at the grassroots and provincial levels; 19 provincial-level initiatives; 12 projects that won the Nghe An Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Award; and 12 articles published in national journals. Personally, he has won 6 projects that won the Nghe An Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Award: 2 First Prizes, 3 Third Prizes, and 1 Encouragement Prize.
All of People's Doctor Pham Vinh Hung's scientific research topics and initiatives have high practical application in the examination and treatment of patients and have significant social implications. Typical topics include: "Research on the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with robotic guidance," "Research on the clinical characteristics and computed tomography imaging of non-small cell lung cancer," and "Application of laparoscopic liver resection in the treatment of liver cancer"...
With his scientific research topic "Study on the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with robotic guidance," People's Doctor Pham Vinh Hung has provided the Nghe An Oncology Hospital in particular, and the Nghe An health sector in general, with a new and effective method for treating lung cancer. (To date, there have been very few domestic studies on the application of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer; the Nghe An Oncology Hospital is the second unit nationwide to implement this technique and conduct research on this topic).
Previously, surgical removal of lung tumors with lymph node dissection combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy was considered the best treatment for lung cancer. However, in reality, nearly 80% of patients are no longer candidates for surgery due to late-stage diagnosis, co-existing medical conditions, or refusal of surgery. The radiofrequency ablation (RFA) method using robotic guidance, researched by People's Physician Pham Vinh Hung, has overcome these limitations. With this method, lung cancer tumors are reduced in size or disappear completely.
Speaking about his research and innovation activities, People's Doctor Pham Vinh Hung shared: "Seeing patients battling illness hour after hour, day after day, I told myself I needed to try to find ways to help them alleviate their pain and difficulties during treatment. This is my heartfelt wish and motivation that has driven me to continuously strive to find more effective treatment methods."
With a heartfelt commitment to patients, People's Doctor Pham Vinh Hung has been at the forefront of scientific research and professional development at Nghe An Oncology Hospital. As Deputy Director and Chairman of the Trade Union, he actively inspires and promotes the hospital's creative and applied scientific research movement. It is known that from 2021 to the present, Nghe An Oncology Hospital has conducted research on over 300 scientific projects.
Dedicated and committed to development.
Similar to People's Physician Pham Vinh Hung, Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh – Director of the Anh Son District Health Center – is also passionate about mastering new and advanced techniques to effectively protect and care for the health of the people. Working at a district-level health unit, Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh always pays attention to learning new and advanced techniques from provincial and central hospitals to apply them to help patients in his district.
In 2010, the new laparoscopic surgical method began to be implemented in district-level hospitals nationwide. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh was one of the first district-level doctors in Nghe An to master and skillfully perform this technique, making laparoscopic surgery the main trend in the surgical specialty at Anh Son District Medical Center.
Having performed numerous endoscopic surgeries, Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh has identified a significant challenge within his unit: removing large volumes of specimens from patients' bodies. Specifically, due to a shortage of modern equipment, doctors at the district level are forced to enlarge the opening for inserting the endoscope to remove the specimens. Thus, endoscopic surgery is no different from open surgery – resulting in large wounds and slow healing.
To overcome this drawback, a specialized device for cutting and removing large-sized and bulky specimens, manufactured in Germany, is now available on the market. However, this device sells for up to 500 million VND (which the Anh Son District Health Center could not afford)... From 2014 to 2019, Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh tirelessly pondered, experimented, and created a completely new specimen cutting machine for endoscopic surgery, with a different operating principle and similar effects, but at a production cost less than one-tenth that of the German device.
The endoscopic specimen cutting machine invented by Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh has successfully solved the problem of removing large, benign specimens at the Anh Son District Medical Center. The machine has many outstanding advantages such as an attractive design; convenient operation; and cutting and suctioning of specimens at an appropriate speed. The specimens are cut into long strips and suctioned out thoroughly and safely. Importantly, due to its low cost, the machine can be purchased and used in most medical facilities, especially at the district level – a basic level without the large budget for purchasing expensive specimen cutting machines.
Alongside the creation of the surgical specimen cutter for laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh also invented another medical instrument – the "Uterine Support Tool for Laparoscopic Hysterectomy." This tool helps surgeons easily identify and locate the patient's uterus during dissection into the hysteroscope. It is known that Dr. Khanh's uterine support tool costs only about 6 million VND to produce, while a uterine support tool from a foreign medical equipment manufacturer costs up to 120 million VND.
The "Patroleum Specimen Cutting Machine for Laparoscopic Surgery" invented by Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh was awarded first prize in the "Nghe An Province Science and Technology Innovation Competition 2020" by the People's Committee of Nghe An Province; it was granted a patent by the Intellectual Property Office of the Ministry of Science and Technology; and it has been put into operation in over 20 hospitals inside and outside the province for examination and treatment. Similarly, his "Uterine Support Device for Laparoscopic Hysterectomy" was awarded first prize in the "Nghe An Province Science and Technology Innovation Competition 2023" by the People's Committee of Nghe An Province.
Sharing his thoughts on his scientific and technological innovation activities, Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh confided: “The practical work of medical examination and treatment has constantly presented medical staff with problems that need to be solved. I am just one participant in that process. In the future, I will continue to strive to make more contributions to the development of the local health sector.”
