On the morning of June 23, 2025, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital had the honor of welcoming a high-level delegation from the Danish Health Authority, along with representatives from Novo Nordisk Vietnam, for an official visit and working session. The meeting focused on the hospital’s management of type 1 diabetes in children and reviewed the outcomes of the Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) program jointly implemented by the two sides.
Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Hang, Head of the International Cooperation Department, opened the session with an overview of the hospital’s history and development. She also emphasized on the hospital’s key areas of expertise and highlighted potential opportunities for bilateral collaboration in pediatric healthcare.
In response to the warm welcome, Dr. Jonas Egebart, Director-General of the Danish Health Authority, expressed hope for a long-term and fruitful partnership with the hospital. The delegation praised the hospital’s efforts to expand access to healthcare services and enhance primary care – an essential strategy for easing the burden on the national hospital system.
Dr. Jonas Egebart and Mr. Lasse Pedersen Hjortshoj, Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam, also shared their enthusiasm for future cooperation between the two institutions.
Continuing the program, Ms. Bach Thu Phuong, Head of the Social Work Department and Secretary of Vietnam Pediatric Association, presented key achievements of the Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) initiative. The program has significantly raised public awareness about type 1 diabetes in children, conducted both basic and advanced training for healthcare workers nationwide, and successfully developed a treatment protocol for type 1 diabetes that was approved and issued by Vietnam’s Ministry of Health.
Looking ahead, the program aims to collaborate with Vietnam Social Security to establish a national type 1 diabetes management system, enabling personalized treatment for each patient.
“Our goal is to expand the network of participating hospitals, continue offering basic and specialized training for medical personnel, and enhance community education – particularly targeting children living with type 1 diabetes, their families, teachers, and school healthcare providers,” said Ms. Bach Thu Phuong during the session.
Ms. Bach Thu Phuong outlined the forthcoming initiatives of the Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) program.
Following the discussion, the delegation visited several young patients undergoing treatment for type 1 diabetes at the Center for Endocrinology, Metabolism, Genetics, and Molecular Therapy. The experts had direct conversations with the hospital’s medical staff to gain deeper insights into clinical practices and challenges.
This visit is expected to lay the groundwork for more impactful cooperation between the two parties, ultimately contributing to improved pediatric healthcare, particularly for children living with type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Bui Phuong Thao, Deputy Director of the Center for Endocrinology, Metabolism, Genetics, and Molecular Therapy, also shared experiences regarding the benefits and challenges in diagnosing and treating pediatric type 1 diabetes with the delegation.
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Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, typically begins in childhood or adolescence. It is primarily caused by the pancreas’s inability to produce insulin – an essential hormone that regulates blood sugar. It is estimated that around 39,500 children and adolescents under the age of 20 are currently living with type 1 diabetes in developing countries across Asia. In Vietnam, data from the Ministry of Health indicates that type 1 diabetes accounts for up to 90% of all pediatric diabetes cases. Specialized pediatric hospitals have reported nearly 2,000 diagnosed cases nationwide. |
