This patient is having a PET/CT scan to determine the conditions of his tumour at 108 Military Central Hospital. PET has only been developed in the last 10-15 years. This new technology uses a radioactive substance called FDG18 which Vietnam could only import in the past. However, since 2010, the108 Military Central Hospital is now capable of producing its own FDG18. This has helped halve PET scanning costs.
"Before, patients had to go overseas for PET scans. It was very expensive. Since the Cyclotron centre developed and applied this technology, patients have had more opportunities to access nuclear medical technology in Vietnam." - Le Ngoc Ha, Head, Nuclear Medicine Department, 108 Military Central Hospital
The Cyclotron-acceleration centre was inaugurated and put into operation in October 2009 thanks to Belgian ODA funding worth of 13.5 million Euros.
Besides the 108 Military Hospital, the centre also produces radioactive substances for other major hospital in Hanoi, and for other scientific purposes."In the second phase, the Belgian ODA will help us upgrade our equipment; provide training and improve our capacity to produce radioactive substances." - Mai Hong Bang, Deputy Director, 108 Military Central Hospital.
"Our ODA is not only related to health and medical fields through the Cyclotron project, but also in other fields such as climate change, waste disposal, training and management. We hope to continue our collaboration with Vietnam in the future." - Jehanne Roccas, Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam.
Since 2011, Vietnam has received ODA worth of nearly 60 million Euros from Belgium. Bilateral co-operation will continue until 2018 before the two countries enter a new phase of collaboration as Vietnam has become a middle-income country.
