Ho Chi Minh City Health Official Appointed Director of Ba Ria General Hospital

Dr. Tran Ngoc Trieu, 53, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, has been appointed Director of Ba Ria General Hospital. The hospital is being developed as a regional medical hub, and this personnel change aims to strengthen its leadership and enhance specialized care. On the afternoon of July 17, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health presented the appointment decision for Dr. Trieu to hold the new position for a term of five years, effective July 16. Prior to this reassignment, Dr. Trieu served as Deputy Director of the former Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial Department of Health and assumed the role of Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health after the merger. At the ceremony, Dr. Trieu pledged to work with the hospital's leadership and staff to build a professional, patient-centered healthcare environment, enhancing professional expertise, medical ethics, and service spirit. According to Mr. Tang Chi Thượng, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, this reassignment and appointment aims to consolidate the leadership for Ba Ria General Hospital and strengthen management resources for key hospitals in the city's regions following the merger. "Although there are still many challenges and we have not yet built the trust expected by the people in the area, Ba Ria General Hospital is facing development opportunities with the city's attention and investment, along with professional support from top-tier hospitals," said the head of the city's health sector. Seven top-tier hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City have signed agreements to provide comprehensive support to Ba Ria Hospital, with the Children's Hospital 1 collaborating on quality management and the development of a modern, patient-centered management system. The Department of Health expects Dr. Trieu, along with the hospital's board of directors and staff, to innovate management methods and effectively leverage the support from top-tier hospitals to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment, enhance patient experience, and strengthen public trust. On the same day, Dr. Duong Thanh, former Director of Ba Ria General Hospital, was reassigned and appointed as Deputy Director of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Eye Hospital for a term of five years, effective July 16. Ba Ria General Hospital currently has a capacity of 900 beds, 35 departments, and over 200 doctors and staff. After the merger, the hospital now falls under Ho Chi Minh City and is oriented to develop into a specialized medical cluster for the eastern region of the city. Within Ho Chi Minh City's multi-polar, multi-level, and multi-center healthcare system development model, the hospital is designated as a key general hospital, serving the medical needs of local residents and contributing to reducing the burden on top-tier hospitals in the central areas. Previously, Ba Ria General Hospital faced several notable issues in its healthcare operations. In October 2025 and June 2026, two patients died at the hospital, prompting their families to demand clarification. A comprehensive inspection by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health for the period January 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, also identified several shortcomings in financial management, personnel organization, medical examination and treatment, pharmacy, and procurement.