High demand

Statistics from Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University and survey of human resources needs in health departments and hospitals in the Central region showed that only with 19/50 units having quick feedback, the workforce of midwifery sector already required 400 people.

“The demand in each year would be different. Currently, we are waiting for 31 units to complete the survey results. However, in reality, the needs of midwifery at medical units is very high”, Ngo Van Dong, M.Sc., Deputy Head of Training Department, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy shared.

The representative of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy analyzed that the preliminary statistics of the General Department of Population showed, in 2019, Vietnam had nearly 1.6 million newborns. It was expected that from 2020, about 4,293 babies would be born on average daily, which mean that millions of babies would be born every year. With this fact, Vietnamese healthcare system called for a large number of midwives working in obstetrics department and medical centers from urban to rural areas.

Life welcomes you with smiles. Photo: Doan Tu

According to Mr. Dong, the school has specialized in midwifery since 2015, and about 3 years ago, the school had a training course on midwifery nursing. However, during that period, due to the absence of a level 4 code sets from Ministry of Education and Training, we could not open the department. On the contrary, its specificity made the midwifery industry unique in establishing the training program.

"Since 2008, after opening the department of traditional medicine, the school has not established any new department until 2020", Mr. Ngo Van Dong (M.Sc.) informed.

Although the human resource in midwifery in Vietnam today is gaining attention in recruiting and increasing each year, the number and structure has been inadequate. The number of (nursing) nurses and midwives working at provincial hospitals accounted for the highest proportion (48.8%), decreased gradually through district hospitals (27.5%) and hospitals under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health. (13.1%), private hospitals (9.1%) and the lowest proportion was in ministry/sector hospitals (1.4%).

Worth mentioning, there is a huge inadequacy in level of expertise. While in many countries in the region and worldwide, midwifery degree has to be provided by senior college or higher education, in Vietnam, nursing, midwifery graduated from junior college accounted for the majority with 66.9%.

Representative of Hue University analyzed that Hue University is developing to become a multidisciplinary and multi-sector national university. Opening new departments is to meet the needs of society and learners, especially to respond to the demand of human resources in some fields nowadays.

Quality assurance

Although the demand is high, according to representatives of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, in the first 3 years, the enrollment scale would only be around 50 students / year for the new department for the purpose of quality assurance.

Unlike the college system, students of the university with Midwifery major have a 4-year training period, focusing more on specialized courses, research ability, theory, specialization and management skills, and higher level of clinical practice. According to the representative of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, in order to open the midwifery department, the school has prepared necessities for a long time, including the survey of learners and recruitment units, also undergoing many steps of quality review.

Dr. Nguyen Cong Hao, Head of Training and Student Affairs Department of Hue University analyzed that the process of opening a new department was strict, through many steps and appraised through many rounds _ from facilities to the staff. Through appraisal, the condition to open a department at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy was adequate. According to Assoc. Prof. Huynh Van Chuong, Vice President of Hue University, Hue University attached great importance to output standards. For all new departments, it was necessary to formulate programs and related issues carefully.

According to the representative of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, due to the peculiarities and as the new specialty, in the current context, the school is focusing on promoting enrollment through online forms, social networks and television, and at the same time, interacting, discussing with candidates to offer them career orientation before registering.

Story, photo: Huu Phuc