During the ceremony, Chairman Tran Viet Truong stated that Can Tho City aims to achieve universal healthcare coverage as part of the Government's sustainable development goals. Therefore, the partnership between Can Tho City and AstraZeneca Vietnam Co. Ltd is expected to help the city promote innovation in particular healthcare areas, including disease prevention and control, medical and biological research, solutions to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from medical activities and human resources training. It will also increase access to new medicines and vaccines in Can Tho and the Mekong Delta region.

Can Tho municipal Department of Health will take responsibility and coordinate with relative agencies to proactively implement the MoU, especially 4 programs: “For Healthy Lungs” in the 2024-2026 period; “CAREME” (a Cardiovascular - Kidney - Metabolic healthcare program); Cooperation program with Can Tho Oncology Hospital; Digestive healthcare program.

Hoang Quoc Cuong, Director of Can Tho Municipal Department of Health, expected cooperation between Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy and AstraZeneca Vietnam to build an innovative healthcare center in Can Tho. The center will conduct in-depth research and train high-quality human resources for the healthcare sector with the engagement of foreign experts.

Director of Can Tho Municipal Department of Health Hoang Quoc Cuong said that currently, 60% of patients in Can Tho hospitals are from Mekong Delta localities. He hopes that in the coming time, the two sides will expand screening for cancers of the liver, breast, cervix, and thyroid while strengthening the application of artificial intelligence in image diagnosis

Nitin Kapoor, Chairman and General Director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, said that AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical business and their innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

Through the MoU signing between Can Tho City and AstraZeneca Vietnam, Nitin Kapoor pledged that the firm will strengthen cooperation with Can Tho in promoting innovation in the medical field, providing solutions and initiatives related to clinical trials, health examination, and treatment, as well as in increasing the application of AI in the screening of lung cancer, asthma, and chronic pulmonary embolism.

The firm also commits to joining hands in environmental protection and sustainable development in the globe, he said, noting that it is implementing a 50-million-USD package to reduce carbon emissions in Vietnam.

Under the MoU, AstraZeneca Vietnam will work with Can Tho to give cancer screening to 10,000 people in the region where the rate of pulmonary tuberculosis is highest in the country.