Many advanced and specialized techniques are now being mastered locally, allowing residents to access high-quality healthcare services without traveling to central hospitals, easing the burden on higher-level facilities, and strengthening public trust in the provincial health system.

In recent years, medical facilities across the province, particularly the provincial General Hospital and the provincial Hospital of Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation, have successfully implemented numerous specialized techniques, improving diagnostic and treatment outcomes for patients. Procedures that were once only available at central hospitals, such as hip and knee replacement surgeries, vertebral cement injection, and laparoscopic operations in gastroenterology, urology, obstetrics, gynecology, and orthopedics, are now routinely performed locally. Notably, doctors have successfully conducted laparoscopic thyroid surgeries and vaginal hysterectomies.

The provincial health sector has also mastered complex, high-precision procedures requiring modern equipment, such as retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) using laser lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy under ultrasound guidance. Hemodialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy have also been effectively implemented, saving many critically ill patients at the provincial level, shortening emergency response times, and improving recovery rates.

Beyond surgery, modern medical technologies are increasingly applied to the diagnosis and treatment of internal diseases. At the provincial Hospital of Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation, innovative therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for osteoarthritis and hyperbaric oxygen therapy have shown remarkable results, particularly in rehabilitation after trauma or chronic conditions. The provincial General Hospital has successfully deployed tumor marker testing, viral load quantification for hepatitis B and C, and chromoendoscopy for early gastrointestinal cancer detection. These advancements have significantly improved early diagnosis and timely treatment of serious diseases.

According to Dr. Trần Đức Nghĩa, Deputy Director of the provincial General Hospital, “In the past, complicated kidney stones, severe injuries, or strokes all required referral to central hospitals. Now, with the mastery of advanced techniques, we can handle these cases right here in the province. Many patients’ lives have been saved, complications reduced, and recovery outcomes improved.” He emphasized that implementing specialized techniques locally brings practical benefits, patients receive high-quality care closer to home, saving both time and money, while also relieving pressure on higher-level hospitals.

Human resources remain the decisive factor in mastering and sustaining these advancements. Hundreds of healthcare workers have been sent for postgraduate and short-term training, workshops, and technical transfers at central hospitals. The province has actively participated in national professional support programs such as Project 1816 and the Satellite Hospital Project, collaborating with leading institutions including Bạch Mai, Việt Đức, the National Cancer Hospital (K), and Hanoi Heart Hospital. Telemedicine consultations have also proven highly effective, allowing local doctors to receive real-time expert guidance from top specialists.

Alongside human resource development, Điện Biên has invested in modern medical equipment such as MRI machines, multi-slice CT scanners, endoscopy systems, laser lithotripsy devices, hemodialysis machines, and real-time PCR testing systems. District health centers and commune health stations have been renovated and newly built, gradually meeting the requirements for advanced technical implementation and providing a more professional, modern treatment environment.

Despite these achievements, challenges remain. The province continues to face shortages of highly qualified specialists and the need for consistent, synchronized modern equipment. Limited funding for maintenance and operation, combined with difficult terrain and scattered populations, hinders access to healthcare services. Meanwhile, rising healthcare demand increases pressure on personnel, finances, and infrastructure.

According to Mr. Phạm Giang Nam, Director of the provincial Department of Health, the sector will continue to prioritize specialized training, adopt new medical technologies, and advance digital transformation in healthcare. The central focus is to improve service quality, streamline medical procedures, and enhance professionalism and patient care, aiming toward greater patient satisfaction. The health sector also plans to strengthen collaboration with central hospitals for continued technology transfer and to apply digital tools in management, gradually building a modern, sustainable healthcare system that better serves the people and contributes to the province’s overall development.