Binh Thuan: Training human resources for medical laboratory testing

Attending the seminar was Assoc. Prof. Dr Vu Quang Huy, President of the Club of Vietnamese Association of Schools and Medical Technology, representatives from the provincial Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology, and healthcare associations. Participants also included leaders and faculty members from universities and colleges offering medical laboratory technology programs, as well as doctors and lab technicians from hospitals and medical centers across the region. Medical Laboratory Technology students from Phan Thiet University were also present at the seminar.

Delivering the opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vo Khac Thuong, Rector of Phan Thiet University emphasized: Amid the rapid advancements in medical science and technology and the growing demand for healthcare, the role of medical laboratory testing has become more crucial than ever. Beyond serving as an indispensable tool for disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring, medical laboratory testing plays a pivotal role in screening and preventive care, significantly contributing to improved public health and quality of life. Therefore, enhancing training quality, standardizing practical skills, and keeping professional knowledge and ethics up to date for laboratory personnel are urgent priorities for both educational and healthcare institutions.

The seminar featured rich and practical content, with 07 presentations delivered by specialists, lecturers, and healthcare professionals. Key discussion topics included: The current state and future direction of medical laboratory technology education; Implementation of new technologies in medical laboratory testing and requirements for human resources; Strategies to enhance practical skills and professional ethics for medical laboratory students; Strengthening collaboration between educational institutions and healthcare employers to meet market demands; Improving quality management in laboratory testing and promoting interoperability of test results among healthcare facilities; and Present and future quality control in laboratory testing.

All presentations sparked lively discussions among participants, helping to clarify remaining challenges in the training and utilization of medical laboratory personnel.

Closing the seminar, Dr. Luong Thanh Son, President of the provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations emphasized the critical role of medical laboratory technology in patient diagnosis, treatment, and health monitoring. He noted that today's seminar held significant practical value, serving as an academic forum where administrators, faculty members, specialists, practitioners, and students could exchange information, share experiences, assess current challenges, and propose effective solutions for enhancing the quality of medical laboratory personnel, ultimately better meeting the demands of modern medicine's evolution. The organizing committee will carefully review and synthesize all recommendations as a foundation for continuously improving training curricula; expanding partnerships in education,  clinical practice, and recruitment; actively contributing to the province's healthcare human resources development strategy in the coming years.