HCM CITY — Family Medical Practice (FMP) has launched Việt Nam's first out-of-hospital Ambulatory Surgical Centre (ASC), located within their Thảo Điền Medical Centre in HCM City.

This achievement marks a significant advancement in Việt Nam's private healthcare sector, bringing international standards of same-day surgical care closer to patients while supporting the modernisation of the country's healthcare system. 

The approval follows more than four years of planning, development and collaboration, including an 18-month pilot programme conducted in partnership with Việt Nam's Ministry of Health.

It represents a shared vision of making high-quality surgical care more accessible, efficient and patient-focused without requiring admission to a traditional hospital for appropriate procedures. 

What is an out-of-hospital ASC?

An out-of-hospital ASC is a modern healthcare facility designed to perform carefully selected surgical procedures where patients can return home on the same day.

Widely established across many developed healthcare systems and neighbouring countries, these centres offer an alternative to inpatient hospital surgery while maintaining rigorous clinical and safety standards. 

For eligible patients, this model provides several advantages, including:

• Greater convenience with same-day discharge 
• Lower overall treatment costs 
• Faster recovery in the comfort of home 
• Reduced exposure to hospital-acquired infections 
• A streamlined and highly personalised surgical experience 

By delivering appropriate procedures in a dedicated ambulatory environment, healthcare resources can also be used more efficiently, helping reduce unnecessary pressure on hospital operating theatres and inpatient services.

Orthopaedic surgery

The ASC will initially focus on orthopaedic procedures, led by internationally acclaimed surgeon Dr Diego Mendizábal. Additional surgical specialties are planned as the centre continues to expand its services in the future. 

Each procedure will follow carefully established patient selection criteria and internationally recognised clinical protocols to ensure the highest standards of patient safety and quality of care.

A collaborative step forward

The development of Việt Nam's first out-of-hospital ASC reflects the strong collaboration between FMP and the health ministry to explore new models of delivering safe, efficient surgical care.

By introducing internationally proven ambulatory surgery practices to Việt Nam, the initiative aims to improve patient access to high-quality procedures while supporting long-term healthcare sustainability through more efficient use of medical resources. 

“FMP opening Việt Nam's first ASC marks the beginning of a new chapter in healthcare delivery. We are redefining what patients expect from modern healthcare: safe, accessible, efficient and centred around their needs," said Dr Rafi Kot, founder and CEO of FMP Healthcare Group.

Continuing FMP's commitment to innovation

For more than three decades, FMP has been committed to delivering international-standard healthcare across Việt Nam. The launch of the ASC builds upon that commitment by introducing innovative models of care that improve patient outcomes while responding to the evolving needs of Việt Nam's healthcare landscape.

As the centre grows, FMP plans to introduce additional specialties and procedures, allowing more patients to benefit from safe, efficient and patient-centred day surgery services. — Family Medical Practice