Swiss doctor offers free spine surgery

His voluntary work has transformed the health conditions of many patients. We'll get to know him in the following story from Phu Yen Province

Doctor Jacques Samani recently arrived in Vietnam from Switzerland to provide spinal surgery for his patients in Phu Yen Province. His patients have spinal cord issues.

His first trip to Vietnam five years ago was part of a collaborative project providing medical equipment from Switzerland. During that first trip, doctor Samani realized that many local patients needed medical treatment, but they were unable to afford it. Since then, every year, he has volunteered to fly to Vietnam and provide free treatment for local people.

Doctor Jacques Samani (Spinal surgeon, Genolier Hospital) said: "I’ve noticed that there are many Vietnamese with spinal and back issues. However, they don’t get adequate or timely treatment. Therefore, I’ve volunteered to come here to support Vietnamese doctors, and exchange knowledge and expertise"

For his one week trip to Vietnam, Dr Samani provides free medical treatment for all of the patients in need. However, in cases which are too complicated to treat in Vietnam, Samani has contacted charities in Switzerland to provide funding patients.

Doctor Tran Anh Dung (Deputy Director, Phu Yen General Hospital) said: "Doctor Samani is currently sharing his expertise and advanced spinal surgery techniques with us. We hope that we can learn from these experiences, and local doctors can soon treat more complicated and difficult cases".

Despite his age, Doctor Samani still flies back and forth between the two continents to work and his efforts are the product of a warm heart for those with spinal issues.