An overview of the Bach Mai 2 Hospital.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long has instructed the Ministry of Health, investors, and contractors to mobilise resources to complete Bach Mai 2 and Vietnam Germany 2 hospitals and ensure they become operational before November 30, 2025.
The Government Office announced on February 24 that Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long had urged the Ministry of Health and project investors to resolve any arising obstacles promptly. The investors must finalise the cost estimation documents for the electromechanical systems and submit them to the Ministry of Construction for appraisal before March 3.
Additionally, contractors have been directed to strengthen their workforce to expedite the simultaneous construction of all components. Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital and Bach Mai Hospital will closely co-ordinate efforts to complete construction, procure medical equipment, and prepare human resources to ensure both hospitals can begin operations immediately upon completion.
The two hospital projects in Ha Nam province were initiated in 2014. Each is designed with 1,000 beds to ease the patient overload at their main facilities in Hanoi. They are among five major hospital projects launched by the Ministry of Health in 2014.
Bach Mai 2 Hospital briefly operated in 2019 but was forced to shut down in March 2020. Meanwhile, Vietnam-Germany 2 Hospital was inaugurated but has never admitted patients. Both hospital sites are in a state of deterioration, with overgrown weeds, incomplete infrastructure, and a lack of essential medical equipment.
The Ministry of Health has identified three primary reasons for the project’s delays. First, these were the first large-scale healthcare projects to be implemented under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contract model, which posed unforeseen challenges for investors and contractors. Second, the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2022 led to social distancing measures across many localities, significantly impacting public investment progress. Third, contractual pricing adjustments, including adding new departments and functional modifications, have hindered timely payments to contractors.
During a meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption, Wastefulness, and Misconduct in October 2024, Party General Secretary To Lam instructed relevant authorities to address several inefficient projects, including Bach Mai 2 and Vietnam Germany 2 hospitals in Ha Nam.
