1. Chief Medical Physicist
RADIOTHERAPY SITUATION IN VIETNAM
AND RESOLUTIONS
Prepared by NguyEn XuAn CU
Chief Medical Physicist
K Hospital (National Cancer Institute)
43 Quan Su Street-HaNoi
Tel:
Fax:

2. INTRODUCTION
·      Population approximately 80 millions
·      Cancer is the second rank disease
·      About new cases each year
·      Only 10% of these are treated by radiation.

3. · Two main Cancer Centres: - National Cancer Institute in Hanoi
INTRODUCTION
·      Two main Cancer Centres:
- National Cancer Institute in Hanoi
- Oncology Hospital in HCM City
·      One Oncology Hospital (Hanoi) and
·   Six RT Departments inprovinces
·     RT facilities are in poor conditions

4. Ten common Cancers in Hanoi and HCM City
(Age standard Rate-ASR/ persons)
Male
Female
Type of cancer
ASR
Hanoi
HCM City
Liver
Lung
Stomach
Colorectal
Esophagus
asopharynx
Pharynx
Prostate
Skin
Pancreas 17
38.8
34.5
13.3
3.4
9.5
2.6
2.2
5.0
1.0
38.2
32.3
24.3
14.8
6.1
5.5
4.9
4.6
4.2
3.8
Cervix
Breast
Ovary
Uterus corpus
Lymphoma
6.3
26.7
8.0
16.4
5.6
6.6
5.9
2.1
3.2 35
17.1
11.8
10.3
8.8
8.3
4.0
2.9

5. Distribution of Radiation Facilities in Vietnam
Institutions
Cobalt & Linac
Brachy. Units
Sim.
TPS
National Cancer Institute (K Hospt.)
Oncology Center (HCM City)
Hanoi Oncology Hospital
Oncology Dept.(Hai Phong Hospt.)
Oncology Dept.(Hue Central Hospt.)
Oncology Dept.(Da Nang Hospt.)
Oncology Dept.(Thai Nguyen Hospt.)
Cho Ray Hospital
Oncology Dept.(Khanh Hoa)
3+1Linac 3 1
2 Linac 4 2

6. The staff are involved in RT at different Oncology centres
The staff are involved in RT at different Oncology centres
Institutions
Radiation
Oncologists
Medical Physicists
Technicians
National Cancer Institute (K Hospt.)
Oncology Hospital (HCM City)
Ha noi Oncology Hospital
Oncology Dept.(Hai Phong Hospt.)
Oncology Dept.(Hue Central Hospt.)
Oncology Dept.(Da Nang Hospt.)
Oncology Dept.(Thai Nguyen Hospt.)
Oncology Dept.(NhaTrang Hospt.)
Oncology Dept.(ChoRay Hospt.) 18 20 4 5 3 2 1 6 12

7. · Lack of RT equipment (Brachy. machines)
Remarks
·      Lack of RT equipment (Brachy. machines)
·      Almost of Cobalt Units are too old
·      Activity of radiation sources are so weak
·      There is no university to train Medical Physicists
·      Few M.Physicists have qualification
·    The others are limited on Medical Physics

8. · Dosimetry System(s) are not available in some hospitals
Remarks
·    Dosimetry System(s) are not available
in some hospitals
·    Several RT Centres have no Medical Physicist,
no TPS, no Simulator
·    Number of patients are overload
·    Most patients are in advanced stages
·    Treatment techniques are still simple

9. RESOLUTION FOR PERIOD
·   Establish new RT Departments in Hanoi
and other provinces.
·   Replace the too old Cobalt Units, purchase new ones
·  Change the too weak Co-60 sources
·   Carry- out a QA-QC Program in RT in the Nationwide
(K Hospital is leading centre)
·   Organise workshops and conferences to train
specialists in the field of RT in Nationwide.

10. · One Brachytherapy System- HDR donation from IAEA (for K Hospital)
PROPOSALS
·   One Brachytherapy System- HDR
donation from IAEA (for K Hospital)
·   Fellowships: one Medical Doctor,
one Medical Physicist (3 months) each year.