Vinmec International Hospital received JCI accreditation for its international-standard quality on June 26.

This is the first hospital in Vietnam to be recognised as aJCI-accredited healthcare entity, joining 800 other facilitiesworldwide.

Vietnamese nationals spend billionsof USD overseas every year on medical treatment due to limited domestichealthcare facilities and services, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen ThiXuyen said, hailing the Vinmec’s drive towards international-standardservices.

The hospital scored 4.81 out of 5 inthe 83-criteria hospital quality management standard issued by theMinistry of Health (MOT) last year, she added.

Dr. Prabhu Vinayagam, Managing Director of the JCI Asia-Pacific Office,said he believes Vinmec deserved the certification and that ensuringhospital quality and patient safety are the responsibility of eachindividual.

Founded in 1994, the JointCommission International, or JCI, is a US-based group providinginternational healthcare accreditation services to hospitals around theworld with the primary focus on improving the safety of patient care.

Its accreditation standards were established toencourage the highest international benchmarks for accreditedorganisations, comprising 285 standards and 1,160 measurable elements.

Vinmec plans to expand its network to 10 hospitals nationwide and establish a medical university by 2020.

Three other hospitals in Vietnam are also running for JCI accreditation.-VNA