On Feb 13, 2008, Vietnam’s MoH promulgated the Decision No. 488/QĐ-BYT recognizing that IVF Van Hanh Unit of Van Hanh General Hospital has enough conditions to implement reproductive assistance techniques. This decision is based on results of IVF Van Hanh Unit’s examination and treatment from July 2007 up to present. Currently, people’s need for infertility examination and treatment is higher and higher. Infertility centers in HCMC such as Tu Du Hospital, Hung Vuong Hospital and O&G International Hospital are overloaded. People with demand usually have to wait for a long time to be examined and treated.

To meet people’s higher and higher demand, under MoH’s permission and Tu Du Hospital’s professional supports, IVF Van Hanh Unit of Van Hanh General Hospital has started to develop infertility examination and treatment since May 1, 2007. Beside the infertility examination and consultation and treatment by intrauterine insemination, IVF Van Hanh Unit of our hospital is also allowed by MoH in developing the technique of in vitro fertilization (IVF) as from July 15, 2007.

Until Feb 2008, IVF Van Hanh Unit has received, examined and treated more than 300 couples, and performed enough techniques of Reproductive Assistance from intrauterine insemination (IUI) to in vitro fertilization (IVF, ICSI, PESA - ICSI). As for 2007, IVF Van Hanh Unit had 95 cases of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the pregnant rate is 38.8%. This is a relatively high success rate in comparison with other IVF centers in Vietnam and in the world. To date, in IVF Van Hanh Unit, there are more than 50 pregnancy cases from IVF. The first IVF baby of this unit is expected to be born in May, 2008. Beside that, IVF Van Hanh Unit also co-operates with Department of Urodynamics at Binh Dan Hospital to treat cases needing ICSI by sperm aspirated. IVF Van Hanh Unit is also the third center nationwide that applies a new technique of embryo preservation – Cryopreservation successfully.

Basing on IVF Van Hanh Unit’s first high and stable successes, the Appraisal Council of Vietnam’s MoH officially issued a decision on recognition of IVF center at Van Hanh Hospital. Under this decision, Van Hanh General Hospital becomes the first general hospital in Vietnam which has successfully developed IVF in Vietnam

Dr. Phung Huy Tuan