Taiwan medical alliance expands Vietnam ties with cancer conference

Taipei, July 19 (CNA) Taiwan's leading medical institutions joined Vietnamese partners in Hanoi on Saturday to expand bilateral cooperation in cancer care, smart healthcare and medical technology, as part of Taiwan's health diplomacy efforts in Southeast Asia.

The 2026 International Conference on Cancer Care, themed "The Future of Integrated Cancer Treatment," was held at the Pullman Hanoi hotel.

Co-hosted by Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) and the Vietnam Medical Association, the event drew more than 400 medical professionals, government officials, hospital administrators and industry representatives, making it the largest Taiwan-Vietnam medical exchange since the conference was launched in 2024, according to TVGH.

The Taiwanese delegation, led by TVGH, also included Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Show Chwan Healthcare System, En Chu Kong Hospital and Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyễn Trắc Bá (阮側柏), secretary-general of the Vietnam-Taiwan Affairs Committee, said medical cooperation has become an important foundation for deepening Taiwan-Vietnam relations and expressed hope that continued exchanges will improve healthcare development and public welfare in both countries.

Taiwan's representative to Vietnam, Liu Shih-chung (劉世忠), said the participation of five major Taiwanese hospital systems marked a new milestone in bilateral medical cooperation built on years of mutual trust.

Nguyễn Thị Xuyên (阮氏川), president of the Vietnam Medical Association, said the annual symposium has become an important platform for professional exchanges, adding that this year's focus on cancer treatment will help improve the quality of cancer care through the sharing of expertise.

TVGH Deputy Superintendent Wang Shuu-Jiun (王署君) said patient-centered personalized medicine depends not only on advanced technologies but also on multidisciplinary teamwork, expressing hope that the conference would further advance precision oncology and smart healthcare cooperation between Taiwan and Vietnam.

During the event, TVGH signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam's Duc Giang General Hospital, while En Chu Kong Hospital signed a separate cooperation agreement with Vietnam's E Hospital to expand collaboration in cancer care, smart healthcare, medical education and personnel training.

TVGH said the conference has evolved from a medical exchange platform into a mechanism linking hospitals, academia, industry and government.

This year's event also marked the first time five major Taiwanese healthcare systems and biotechnology companies jointly participated, showcasing Taiwan's strengths in integrating medicine, biotechnology, information and communications technology, medical devices and artificial intelligence.

The hospital said the initiative supports the government's New Southbound Policy while strengthening Taiwan's international health diplomacy.