Vinmec has launched its Fetal Medicine Department, marking a new era in prenatal treatment in Vietnam and contributing to improved population health and quality.
The Vinmec Healthcare System has officially launched its Fetal Medicine Department — a landmark milestone marking Vietnam’s entry into the era of prenatal intervention. This is the first time in Vietnam that a non-public healthcare institution has been evaluated and licensed by the Ministry of Health to perform diagnostic, surgical, and therapeutic procedures on fetuses while still in the womb. These interventions help reduce neonatal mortality and enhance population quality even before birth.
The Vinmec Fetal Medicine Department is built upon the system’s core clinical strengths, including obstetrics, diagnostic imaging, genetics, anesthesiology and resuscitation, neonatology, and neonatal intensive care.
Leveraging these advantages, the department is fully equipped to perform a comprehensive range of world-leading fetal medicine techniques, such as: prenatal genetic diagnosis and advanced morphological ultrasound, fetoscopic surgery, intrauterine blood transfusion, treatment of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), and management of conditions like congenital diaphragmatic hernia, pulmonary hypoplasia, congenital heart defects, thalassemia, fetal anemia, preeclampsia, and preterm birth — giving unborn babies a greater chance at a healthy future.
Dr. Dinh Thi Hien Le, MSc – Head of the Fetal Medicine Department – was the first to introduce fetal intervention techniques in Vietnam and has personally performed hundreds of complex interventions, saving the lives of many fetuses with severe conditions.
Dr. Le emphasized that fetal intervention is a highly delicate field, where the line between treatment and risk is incredibly thin. Success not only demands deep expertise and cutting-edge equipment but also requires tight coordination across specialties — and trust from the expectant mother.
“We always consider every case carefully, consulting with experts and specialists to determine the most optimal and appropriate plan for both the mother and fetus,” Dr. Le shared.
Fetal medicine is a cutting-edge subspecialty of obstetrics that treats the fetus as an independent “patient,” allowing for diagnosis and interventional treatment while still in the womb. Thanks to advancements in imaging, genetics, endoscopy, blood transfusion, and minimally invasive surgery, the Fetal Medicine Department at Vinmec is opening up new opportunities for early and effective interventions in a wide range of congenital anomalies and life-threatening complications—potentially transforming the future of babies before they are even born.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 8 million children are born with at least one congenital disorder each year, with 240,000 dying within the first 28 days of life. In Vietnam, this number is estimated at around 40,000 annually. However, due to the high requirements for specialized expertise, advanced equipment, and interdisciplinary coordination, fetal medicine has not yet become widespread in the country.
Speaking about the establishment of the department, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ba Nha, Director of the Women’s Health Center at Vinmec Times City, emphasized: “Life begins with belief. With the Fetal Medicine Department, medicine is not just about curing—it’s about preserving miracles, and Vinmec is leading this journey.”
The launch of the Fetal Medicine Department has made Vinmec the first non-public healthcare provider in Vietnam fully capable of offering comprehensive prenatal diagnosis and treatment in accordance with international standards—reinforcing its position as a pioneer in Vietnam’s private healthcare sector.
In the near future, Vinmec plans to expand international partnerships by connecting with leading fetal medicine centers worldwide, participating in global consultation and research networks, and launching training programs for doctors. This will include transferring advanced techniques to hospitals across Vietnam, thereby spreading specialized knowledge and improving maternal-fetal care nationwide.
This initiative is part of Vinmec’s broader strategy to develop world-class academic medicine, with the ultimate goal of becoming the leading academic healthcare system in the region by 2030.
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