Shiga University of Medical Science received a visit from Vietnamese delegation, headed by the President of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh University, Dr. Dang Van Phuoc, Vice-President Le Quan Nghiem, accompanied by the new director of Cho Ray Hospital, Dr. Nguyen Truong Son and its chief of the training section, Dr Hoang Hoa Hai to pay respects to our new president, Prof. Bamba and vice-president, Prof. Hattori. On June 23, 2008, a cooperative agreement was entered into between SUMS and UMP-HCMC.

The University of Medicine and Pharmacy at HCMC is the largest medical university in Viet Nam, and was established in 1976. SUMS has had a cooperative agreement with its affiliate hospital, Cho Ray Hospital since December, 2006. SUMS has been promoting exchanges, including accepting trainees and researchers in our Departments of Radiology, Nursing and Surgery.

SUMS anticipates promoting collaborative research on avian influenza and other projects, and personnel exchanges with the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at HCMC, as well as with Cho Ray Hospital.

Ms. Thai Thi Kim Nga, Chief of the Nursing Department of Cho Ray Hospital, a member of the Vietnamese delegation, studied Japanese hospital management and nursing management in the Nursing Department of SUMS for three days from June 25.

It was the first time in Shiga Prefecture that a chief of Nursing of a Vietnamese hospital had received training in hospital management and nursing management in Japan, and such a case is seldom seen anywhere in Japan.