International and domestic health experts have gathered for a two-day conference in Hanoi to discuss practical ways of improving healthcare services for elderly citizens at an affordable cost.
According to medical experts, Vietnam currently has more than seven million elderly people, which accounts for ten percent of the population, and this figure is expected to rise over the next couple of years.
This scenario poses big challenges for the country’s socio-economic environment. The elderly will be in need of health care, but the cost of medical care for older citizens is on average seven times higher than for young people.
Doctor Pham Thang from the National Institute of Gerontology said that cancer, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and bone and heart disorders are the most common complaints among the elderly people.
“Elderly people have been known to suffer from several diseases simultaneously. If a disorder goes unnoticed or is misdiagnosed, it is likely that the treatment costs will increase, while the quality of the patient’s life decreases,” he said.
Over the past few years, the centre has trained more than 800 staff and provides services for more than 6,000 sick elderly residents in 11 cities and provinces. A network of more than 2,000 volunteers has been established in 110 communes to support 3,000 elderly residents. “This model is more suitable for elderly Vietnamese who wish to be treated at home with their relatives close by. The most important thing, I think, is that this model lowers their treatment costs,” Mr Trai said.