Hospital project in Me Linh left idle since 2011

In 2011, Hanoi authorities planned to build four major hospitals with over 1,000 beds each. The hospitals were located in Me Linh District in the north, Dan Phuong or Thach That District in the west, Gia Lam District in the east and Phu Xuyen District in the south.

The general hospital in Me Linh District was expected to meet international standards and open in 2013 to ease overcrowding. It was hoped to receive patients from nearby districts and neighbouring provinces like Vinh Phuc and Phu Tho.

However, no construction has been started even though the city authorities already issued a decision to recover 95,000 square metres and transferred 111,300 square metres to the Ministry of Construction to build the USD2.7trn project.

Me Linh authorities said after the project was announced, the existing district general hospital had already started moving into a new location. They have no idea when the new hospital will be built.

During a meeting with Hanoi People's Committee, the representative from the Ministry of Health said they had had the approval to build another branch of Vietnam National Children's Hospital and the Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in Quoc Oai District, and another branch of Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology in the suburbs. The city authorities were asked to review the planning to avoid overlapping and similar hospitals.

Hanoi authorities then said huge hospitals were not necessary and that the hospitals could be smaller but scattered around the city to be more accessible.

According to the health care development plan to 2020, Hanoi aims to become a regional health centre with five multi-functional medical complexes that cover from 50 to 200 hectares.