Ha Nam, September 22 (VNA) – A capacity development project for the health sector in northern Ha Nam province, sponsored by the European Union and the Government of Luxemburg, has concluded successfully, with local medical stations recording substantial increases in patient numbers.

Since 2009, the project has purchased more than 1,420 pieces of equipment for 116 clinics in the locality, including image-diagnosis machinery, test equipment and essential medical tools, and provided refresher courses for medical staff.

Director of the provincial Department of Health Nguyen Xuan Quy said many staff members paid the course fees themselves to learn about new equipment and treatment methods. He added that local clinics were also expanded to accommodate more patients.

Leaders of grass-roots health units said the measures had improved Ha Nam’s health sector, resulting in more people coming to local clinics for check-ups and treatment rather than travelling to hospitals in Hanoi.

Last year, communal medical centres in Thanh Liem district conducted ultrasound exams for more than 1,200 patients, while thousands of others were examined and treated according to their diagnoses.

The project also benefitted the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, and 15 other provinces in Vietnam between 2009 and 2014.