Over two days (17–18 April 2026) in Phu Tho Province, the Vietnam Pediatric Association, in coordination with Phu Tho Provincial Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, organized the 2026 Regional Scientific Pediatrics Conference for the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Areas. The event brought together leading experts, scientists, hospital leaders, and healthcare professionals from across the region.
The conference served as an important scientific forum to update professional knowledge, share practical experience, and strengthen collaboration in child healthcare—especially for the Northern midland and mountainous provinces.
At the conference, Prof. Dr. Tran Minh Dien—President of the Vietnam Pediatric Association and Director of Vietnam National Children’s Hospital—highlighted that child healthcare in the Northern midland and mountainous areas continues to face significant challenges due to geographic, transportation, and socio-economic barriers. At the same time, the disease pattern is changing: infectious diseases still carry outbreak risks, while chronic non-communicable diseases are increasingly common.
According to Prof. Dr. Tran Minh Dien, the current system capacity includes:
- 100% of primary-level facilities can detect and provide initial management for acute and infectious cases.
- 92.3% of provincial hospitals can perform treatment stratification during outbreaks.
- 96.2% of hospitals have pediatric intensive care teams on duty 24/7.
- 65.4% can establish a regional rapid response team.
However, many localities still face shortages in equipment and human resources, difficulties in remote support, and a low pediatrician density (approximately 1.54 pediatricians per 10,000 children). This underscores the need to strengthen comprehensive capacity for pediatric clinicians and enhance inter-level connectivity so that children can access timely and appropriate care.
Mr. Nguyen Huy Ngoc, Vice Chair of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee, emphasized that developing pediatrics must go hand in hand with science and technology, continuously improving the quality of diagnosis and treatment to better care for children—the nation’s future. The conference provided an opportunity for healthcare staff to update knowledge, strengthen capacity, and promote the application of science and technology in clinical practice. Phu Tho Province affirmed its commitment to creating conditions for the comprehensive development of pediatrics in the coming period.
A major highlight was the announcement of the establishment of the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Areas Regional Pediatric Sub-association, based in Phu Tho, on 17/04/2026. This milestone is expected to help build a region-wide professional network, creating a foundation for collaboration in training, research, and technical transfer across levels of care.
Experts noted that building an inter-provincial pediatric network can help narrow gaps in service quality across localities, moving toward the goal of ensuring that all children can access high-quality healthcare services in an equitable and effective manner.
The conference featured multiple high-value scientific presentations reflecting practical issues and trends in modern pediatrics, including:
- Updated treatment for pediatric encephalitis and meningitis
- Advances in neonatal resuscitation, especially care for preterm infants
- Updated guidance for cardiac arrest emergency response
- Hemodynamic management in septic shock
- Diagnostic approach to renal tubular acidosis
- Clinical case discussions on severe anaphylaxis and pediatric gastrointestinal disorders
The conference also addressed broader system issues such as regional pediatric service network organization, referral mechanisms, and solutions to improve access to healthcare services for children in hard-to-reach areas.
Prior to the main conference (17/04/2026), a pre-conference training course on “Ultrasound in Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care” was also held at Phu Tho Provincial Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, with broad participation.
Overall, the 2026 Regional Pediatrics Conference for the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Areas was not only a regular annual scientific activity but also an important step in the regional strategy to strengthen the pediatric healthcare system. The outcomes are expected to contribute to improving the quality of child healthcare—especially in underserved areas—toward equitable and effective health development.
