Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world even though many cancers are curable and treatable. Early detection, an oncology best practice, prevents cancers from becoming life-threatening. Bach Mai Hospital and Hanoi Oncology Hospital, leading medical and oncology institutions in Hanoi, Vietnam, partnered with Project ECHO to expand access to early cancer detection and treatment to strengthen cancer care capacity in provincial communities.

Dr. Pham Cam Phuong, director of the Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Center at Bach Mai Hospital (left); Dr. Bùi Vinh Quang, director of the Hanoi Oncology Hospital (center); Dr. Giap Vu Van, deputy director of the respiratory center at Bach Mai Hospital (right). Photo Credit: Hanna Negusie, Project ECHO, November 2025.

“At Bach Mai Hospital, we use the latest best-practice techniques to diagnose and treat cancer. Through ECHO, we can share our knowledge with local health care providers and work toward closing the gap between urban and rural cancer care.” Dr. Pham Cam Phuong, director of the Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Center at Bach Mai Hospital, highlights how ECHO virtual networks facilitate the expansion of quality cancer care to hard-to-reach regions.

Hospital-based oncology experts, including Dr. Pham Cam Phuong, connect with rural health care providers during ECHO sessions, share early detection and treatment best practices, and support the development of community-based cancer care. Local health care providers learn how to treat cancer and apply lifesaving medical knowledge. ECHO networks also support systems-level impact.

Supporting Strategic Goals with ECHO

Dr. Bùi Vinh Quang, director of the Hanoi Oncology Hospital, describes how ECHO programs are improving workforce capacity in accordance with the strategic goals of Vietnam’s Ministry of Health. “Hospitals that implement the ECHO system strengthen clinical capacity at both upper- and lower-level hospitals. The iECHO platform*, with its comprehensive features, helps improve the effectiveness of remote training and enhances interaction between instructors and learners. This is an effective tool to support the Ministry of Health’s Telemedicine Program.”

The Ministry of Health identified a key action for improving oncology care in Vietnam – to disseminate innovative oncology interventions to health care providers. Through ECHO virtual networks, local health care providers are building their expertise and closing gaps in cancer treatment.

Project ECHO collaborates with partners around the world to increase access to lifesaving and best-practice knowledge. Ministries of health, government agencies, and hospitals use the ECHO Model to enhance how local health care providers deliver care and strengthen health systems. Through virtual discussions and case-based learning, local health care providers become experts in best practices, apply quality treatment in their communities, and improve health outcomes.

For more information on Project ECHO’s work to improve cancer care, email the program team.

* The iECHO platform is software designed to support the ECHO Movement. It is provided at no cost to ECHO participants, Hubs, and Superhubs. The goal of iECHO is to make the implementation of the ECHO Model more efficient through a shared digital infrastructure.