Vietnam

PATH has been a trusted partner to Vietnam’s Ministry of Health for four decades. We’ve supported its work to expand sexual, reproductive, maternal, and child health services, and to address infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases. Today, as rapid social and economic changes transform Vietnam, we are leveraging our thought leadership with the government, the private sector, civil-society organizations, and social entrepreneurs to advance equitable access to good health.

Areas of focus

Infectious diseases

PATH develops new approaches to prevent and manage infectious diseases, prepare for potential pandemics, and address the challenges of HIV, drug-resistant malaria, and tuberculosis (TB). Our work in this area includes:

• Increasing access to testing for HIV and hepatitis C, and introducing pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV.

• Leveraging the rise of social media, civil society, and social enterprises to connect at-risk groups to HIV services.

• Creating new models to standardize TB care across the public and private sectors, including strengthening detection, diagnosis, and treatment of TB within primary health care.

• Boosting malaria diagnosis and treatment by identifying and cultivating markets for new diagnostic technologies.

• Supporting government-led surveillance systems to quickly detect and respond to outbreaks.

Noncommunicable diseases

PATH is helping Vietnam develop resources and mechanisms to tackle noncommunicable diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Our work in this area includes:

• Partnering across sectors to educate, equip, and motivate individuals to look after their own health.

• Increasing access to preventive care by bringing services like blood pressure screening to community settings.

• Improving quality of care across the public and private sectors by training clinicians and setting up peer support networks.

• Making long-term care more effective by increasing access to primary health care services and developing digital tools that track and support clients.

Vaccines and immunization

PATH promotes the introduction of new vaccines and systems that expand protection against dangerous but preventable diseases. We also partner with Vietnamese manufacturers to support development of high-quality, low-cost vaccines, which can reduce the financial burden on the public health system while boosting epidemic preparedness. Our vaccine work includes:

• Providing technical assistance to vaccine manufacturers (including those producing influenza and rotavirus vaccines), carrying out international-standard clinical trials, and navigating regulatory and licensing processes to bring vaccines to market.

PATH is a global organization that solves the world’s most pressing health challenges by bringing together public institutions, businesses, social enterprises, and investors. With expertise in science, health, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales solutions when and where they are needed most—including vaccines, drugs, devices, diagnostics, and innovative approaches to strengthening health systems worldwide.

• Growing the National Immunization Information System from a small-scale pilot into a comprehensive digital system that tracks vaccination records and vaccine stocks—saving time and resources while improving immunization coverage.

• Identifying essential vaccines—including for hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, and Japanese encephalitis—and advocating for their inclusion in the national immunization program.

Antimicrobial resistance

PATH is helping Vietnam address high rates of antimicrobial resistance, which occurs when microorganisms evolve into “superbugs” and stop responding to treatment. Our work includes:

• Partnering with the Ministry of Health, hospitals, and others to strengthen surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, improve infection prevention and control practices to prevent the transmission of drug-resistant organisms, and tighten antibiotic prescribing practices.

• Bringing together public and private health care facilities and developing digital tools and systems to enable more consistent TB treatment and prevent the rise of multidrug- resistant TB.

Cross-cutting challenges and opportunities

Digital innovation and data

Throughout the Mekong region, we apply the Principles for Digital Development to make health care more accessible. That means promoting health equity and health system efficiency through user-centered technologies, supporting people-centered digital health information systems, and promoting the use of high-quality data.

Environmental health

Our health is inextricably linked to our environment. Climate change, plus the degradation of air, water, and land, increases rates of communicable diseases, noncommunicable diseases, and loss of life and well-being. The need to address Vietnam’s

Photo: PATH/Matthew Dakin

Since 2010, PATH has supported local manufacturers in Vietnam to develop their own vaccines, including egg-based vaccines for influenza. Maintaining a locally produced supply enables Vietnam to better prepare for and respond to future pandemics.

Partner with us

Our work depends on strategic partnerships with governments, social investors, community groups, and businesses. We are continuously finding new, cost-effective ways to turn ideas into action to bring good health within reach of people and communities throughout Vietnam.

Think you’d like to work with us? Contact us at vietnam@path.org.

Hanoi

#1101, 11th Floor, Hanoi Towers 49 Hai Ba Trung Street Hoan Kiem District Hanoi

Phone: +84 24 3936 2215 Email: vietnam@path.org

Ho Chi Minh City

#1603, 16th Floor, TNR Tower 180-192 Nguyen Cong Tru Street Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City

Phone: +84 28 3914 1415 Email: vietnam@path.org

On the cover: Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects one in four adults in Vietnam. PATH works with communities and primary health care providers to develop campaigns that promote healthier lifestyles to slow the rise of heart disease.

Photos, cover: PATH/Matthew Dakin; above, from left: PATH, World Health Organization/Mark Leong

environmental health challenges is increasingly urgent, and PATH is exploring partnership opportunities to take action.

A person-centered approach

No matter the health area, PATH takes a systems strengthening approach that places people at the center. This includes supporting primary health care systems to provide high-quality, integrated, and coordinated services throughout a person’s life course, and considering the distinct needs of people of different genders and socioeconomic groups.