The relation between FV Hospital and International University started a number of years back. Students from the university have been regular interns in FV Hospital; ex-students are working with the biomedical engineering department and lectures given by senior hospital personnel in the university. This relation was cemented in October 2020 with the signing of the cooperation agreement between the two esteemed institutions. Various initiatives were agreed upon along with the flagship biomedical engineering training for the students in the hospital. This was perhaps the first PPP (public private partnership) of its kind for technical training in the country.

The first of its kind medical technology training commenced from 6^th March 2021, delivered every Saturday at the hospital for six consecutive weeks. The lectures were delivered by Mr Monojit Mitra (Facility Director of FV Hospital) and Dr Ngo Thanh Hoan (Chair of Medical Instrumentation Department, School of Biomedical Engineering in International University, Vietnam National University). In addition, collaboration from specialists supplied by manufacturers like Philips, Drager and Siemens were involved. The subjects included were –

• Week 1 – Ultrasound
• Week 2 – Anaesthesia Machine
• Week 3 – Patient Monitor
• Week 4 – NICU Equipment
• Week 5 & 6 – Biochemistry Analyser

The six-week course was primarily aimed at  students of the university along with biomedical engineers working in various hospitals in and around the city. The response was overwhelming and the registration had to be close a week prior to the start as all the places were filled up. The key objective of the training was to impart practical knowledge from field for the participants. Mr Monojit Mitra, a visiting lecturer to the university in the past, commented – “the main goal of the training was to bring maximum real life experience to the participants, the knowledge on the application and orientation with the related anatomy and physiology, working principles and to get ‘hands on’ with equipment; the participants had the opportunity to interact with the many advanced machines at  FV Hospital, gain knowledge and skills, which will help them in future.”

The initial proposal of including the students for the biomedical engineering course by Mr Mitra received the support from the Board of Directors of FV Hospital as well as the University Administration. It is one of the key contributions from the hospital towards society and its development and part of the corporate social responsibility of the hospital. In addition, the trained participants’ specialised in biomedical engineering will be a key human resource for the future. In addition to this training program, the two organisations will work in collaboration to schedule future development programs in the university.

As the coordinator of the course and development of the key training contents, Mr Mitra informed. “I think the knowledge shared in the course will be vital for all aspiring Biomedical Engineering students. Once the situation with the pandemic improves, we will invite International specialists from related fields to interact with the students for its future seasons”. In the first session, this course has been open to all related students from the university and he propose to increase the number of seats for future programs to meet the overwhelming interest among the students and the medical equipment industry. Mr Mitra with over three decades of experience in the field wish to share his vast knowledge with the students and feels that this will be a great program for FV Hospital in the coming years.

The short six-week course has received prodigious response from the industry, professors and lecturers and of course from the students. This is the first joint venture initiative between FV Hospital and International University. The next session of this course has been planned for October, 2021.