On May 6, 2024, the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center at Vinmec Times City International General Hospital was officially recognized as an excellent Sports Medicine Center according to the standards of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). By becoming one of the 12 top centers in the continent to achieve this certification, Vinmec continues to affirm its leading position in treatment quality, bringing Vietnamese sports medicine up to global standards in sports medicine clinical practice.
The certification of the Sports Medicine Center of Excellence, according to the standards of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), is the highest level of recognition for healthcare facilities and hospitals that provide optimal healthcare services for football players in Asia.
Currently, 12 centers in Asia have received this certification. These centers are leaders in clinical research, professional training, injury prevention measures, and the application of advancements in sports medicine. Notably, these centers play a crucial role in ensuring the health of football players in Asia and athletes in general.
To achieve this recognition, Vinmec and other healthcare facilities must undergo rigorous evaluation, meeting the highest standards in infrastructure, clinical expertise, sports science support, emergency response capabilities, research, education, as well as collaboration with national football federations and compliance with AFC medical regulations.
In terms of infrastructure, Vinmec is the largest private healthcare system in Vietnam with a focus on academic medicine, owning a network of 7 modern hospitals across the country. Vinmec is also the only institution with a Motion Analysis Lab, which applies motion analysis to assess factors related to human body movement. This helps detect and prevent the risk of injuries or re-injuries, supports treatment, measures the effectiveness of training processes, and provides the best treatment and recovery support for sports medicine.
Vinmec brings together a team of highly skilled and experienced medical professionals, including doctors, technicians, and other experts specializing in sports medicine, such as Dr. Vũ Tú Nam, Dr. Hồ Ngọc Minh, and Senior Technician Nguyễn Quyết Thắng. The team continuously participates in training programs, gaining experience and perfecting international-standard care models at top healthcare systems worldwide, such as Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic (USA), Osaka Metropolitan University (Japan), Kobe University Hospital (Japan), Aspetar (Qatar), and Lincoln University (UK).
Additionally, the center is a pioneer in developing and applying advanced technologies and techniques for treating injuries and sports medicine, such as arthroscopic surgery for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using "anatomical mapping."
Thanks to the use of advanced 3D navigation technology, the center's doctors successfully performed arthroscopic surgery on both knees of player Chương Thị Kiều (a top forward for the Vietnam Women's Football Team) in a single operation, enabling her to quickly recover and participate in the 2023 World Cup. The successful reconstruction of her ACL allowed for complete and rapid recovery.
Professor Dr. Tran Trung Dung (Director of the Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center at Vinmec Times City) stated: "Recognizing the importance of sports medicine and anticipating the needs of society, Vinmec has invested in and established a center equipped with the most advanced and modern functional departments. The center not only treats medical conditions and performs surgeries but also specializes in sports medicine. Both professional athletes and non-professional sports enthusiasts receive comprehensive and individualized healthcare. This recognition is a testament to Vinmec's efforts and highest commitment to developing sports medicine in Vietnam to international standards."
Dr. Dato’ Gurcharan Singh, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), shared: "The healthcare and medical benefits for players are a crucial part of AFC’s vision to ensure the success of national teams on the global stage. Expanding the AFC Medical Excellence Centers not only enhances service scope, accessibility, and player care but also ensures more opportunities for clinical medical collaboration and multidisciplinary knowledge exchange across the continent."
The event of Vinmec Times City becoming one of the 12 Centers of Excellence in Sports Medicine recognized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) provides athletes and sports enthusiasts with a reputable treatment destination, eliminating the need for expensive treatments abroad. This milestone reaffirms Vinmec’s correct approach in modern healthcare. As the leading private healthcare system in Vietnam, Vinmec not only focuses on treating common medical conditions but also leads in improving the quality of life for the population, with a strong emphasis on addressing the needs of modern society, including sports health.
