Japan helps improve medical equipment at Vietnamese national cancer hospital

Hanoi, May 29 (VNA) – Health Minister Dao Hong Lan and Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – Vietnam Office Sugano Yuichi on May 28 signed an agreement on grant worth 300 billion VND (11.78 million USD) for a project on improving medical equipment at National Cancer Hospital in Hanoi.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Lan thanked the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, JICA and Japanese experts for their support to Vietnam's healthcare sector in the past time. She said she hopes the embassy and the agency will support the hospital to implement the project in the coming time.

The minister asked the hospital to closely cooperate with the Japanese side and relevant agencies to complete procedures, receive and use the equipment effectively.

In Vietnam, non-communicable diseases cause 77% of the total deaths each year, and cancer is the second leading cause.

According to estimates by the Global Cancer Organisation (GLOBOCAN), in 2022, Vietnam had more than 180,000 new cancer cases and about 120,000 deaths due to cancer./.