During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh was very interested in building a strong and comprehensive Vietnamese medicine, in which medical ethics was particularly interested by President Ho Chi Minh. He always cares about the health of the people, the medical profession and the doctors because the medical profession in general and doctors in particular have the mission of taking care of the health of the whole people and curing and saving people. On February 27, 1955, on the occasion of The Medical staff conference, President Ho Chi Minh wrote a letter to the conference with valuable teachings.
He reminded the responsibility of medical staff in lettter: "Love the sick - The sick entrust their lives to you. The government entrusts you to treat diseases and keep the people healthy. It is a glorious task. Therefore, cadres need to love and care for patients like their own brothers and sisters, treating them as painful as they are. “The physician must be like a mother”, that saying is very true!”
.jpg)
President Ho Chi Minh visits Hai Phong Military Medical Hospital (May 1957).
In the years of resistance against the French invasion, the Vietnam People's Army faced a lot of difficulties in terms of material, military and combat experience in battlefields with harsh terrain and weather. At this time, the task for military medical staff is to ensure the health of soldiers and citizens and quickly return combat troops to units at the front. The Central Committee sent famous doctors such as Doctor - Minister of Health Vu Dinh Tung, Doctor - Deputy Minister of Health Ton That Tung to participate in the campaign and directly perform surgery on wounded soldiers at the front. There are dangerous cases beyond their ability, the Vietnamese military has arranged transfer stations at many routes to handle the wound optimally, ensuring that it can be safely transported to the rear for treatment. Military medical forces also participate in transporting wounded soldiers, both taking care and treating wounded soldiers, in many situations they comfort and encourage soldiers' morale. After the Dien Bien Phu victory, doctors and nurses continued to treat French wounded soldiers until they were transferred to concentration camps in the delta to wait for their return.
In the following years of the resistance war, at the front lines or in the rear, the medical team still did not forget the task of training the next class, actively, actively seeking, learning and passing on the experience for each other. Although in this period, the concentration of all human and material resources to serve the frontline is given top priority, but in the midst of many difficulties and shortages, the medical industry has not stopped developing, ensuring good work, care for wounded soldiers and disease prevention and control. The important achievements of the medical industry during this period were the production of vaccines against cholera, smallpox, and typhoid to vaccinate the people; prepare and produce common drugs with local materials. In 1950, Vietnam first produced penicillin antibiotics.
.jpg)
Military medical doctors treat the wounds of John McCain - American pilot captured at Truc Bach lake, Hanoi, October 26, 1967.
Since the years of war against the US, Vietnam's medical industry faced many difficulties in terms of facilities, human resources, equipment and treatment techniques, first aid for wounded soldiers, sick soldiers and victims of war in many important medical facilities were severely damaged. The medical industry must once again focus on building and developing, strengthening staff for establishments in rural areas, ensuring health care for people in the North. At the same time, it was the support for the Southern front: many medical students who had just graduated from school volunteered to cross the Truong Son to serve in the battlefields, hundreds of thousands of tons of medicine and medical equipment were transported to the South through the Ho Chi Minh trail, contributing to the liberation of the South and reunification of the country.
When the US government waged a war to destroy by US air and navy, the North army and people shot down thousands of planes, captured nearly 500 American pilots, some American pilots were detained at Hoa Lo Prison, Ha Noi. Interior. Perhaps, in few wars, American POWs were treated as well as they were in the war of invasion of Vietnam after they were captured. In the spirit of leniency and humanity, Vietnam has created conditions for American pilot prisoners of war at Hoa Lo prison to enjoy proper diet and good health care in wartime, those who are weak or sick will be decided by the camp command to be given a more special diet. In addition, American pilot prisoners of war were also entitled to entertainment, sunbathing, volleyball, basketball, billiards, reading books and newspapers, listening to news - including American and the West news – through the radio station relayed by the camp, or by choosing prisoners with a good voice to read for all to hear. Explaining the special regime to American pilot prisoners of war, their superiors explained: American pilot prisoners of war are "precious capital" and "asset" so that Vietnam can later fight on the diplomatic front with the enemy direction. Camp officers and soldiers must clearly define: taking care of the well-being of pilot prisoners of war is also a special task. In addition to being dedicated to treating injuries caused by skydiving after the plane caught fire, the pilot prisoners were examined by the best doctors at Military Hospitals 108, 103, 354 of the Vietnam People's Army and periodic treatment. So, unlike the initial depression when they were captured into Hoa Lo camp, most of the American pilot prisoners were mentally stable and their health recovered very quickly. Many people have consciously practiced sports to adapt to new living conditions, stay healthy and wait for the day to be returned home.
.jpg)
Forces from many hospitals across the country supported the fight against the epidemic in the South.
Up to now, following President Ho Chi Minh's teachings, the achievements that the health sector has achieved during the long and arduous resistance war against the French and American forces for national liberation, national reunification and even in peacetime, building the homeland, has affirmed the important role of the health sector in the construction and defense of the country, meeting the beliefs, expectations and expectations of President Ho Chi Minh. History records the white-shirted soldiers who were not afraid of dangers, difficulties and deprivations who were always present in the trenches to treat wounded soldiers, effectively serve the front line, and so many people left behind. a part of his blood or bones or permanently leave for the cause of national liberation. The country is peaceful, the white-shirted warriors continue to study and practice non-stop, devotedly taking care of and protecting the health of the people, including those in high mountains or remote islands.
Looking back over two years when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out and caused serious consequences globally and in Vietnam, the "white-shirted soldiers" continued to sacrifice with courage, compassion and even medical ethics... More than 25,000 experts, medical staff, doctors, and students of medical schools have set out to support localities without fear of hardship and danger. Officials and medical staff are dedicated to serving at medical facilities and isolation areas during the most complicated time of the Covid-19 epidemic in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces. During the wars of resistance against France and the United States, doctors sacrificed themselves to carry out political duties while fighting on the front against bombs and taking care of the patients of POWs. But in the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic today, doctors and nurses once again carry on their responsibility and mission to face this gun-free front, they always stand by the patient, always for the community in all situations, all aspects is a bridge to access the world's medical knowledge to bring accurate and useful health information to as many patients as possible for timely treatment the patients.
Touched by the dedication and courage of the medical staff in the work of medical examination and treatment, and in protecting the people's health, especially in the recent Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control and to honor the medical staff in peacetime, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said in the Program to celebrate Vietnam Doctors' Day 27/02/2022: “Every Vietnamese person wants to say gratitude, thanks, words of sharing, words of understanding and consensus to doctors and medical staff with the proud and noble mission of "Medicine as a mother" to care for and protect people's health, contribute to building A healthy nation, a prosperous, powerful and prosperous country!"
.jpg)