Ceremony to announce the Sport Medicine Center of Excellence according to the standards of the AFC in Vietnam

  06/05/2024 16:29:20

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Representative of the Vietnam Football Federation speaking at the ceremony, President of the Vietnam Football Federation Tran Quoc Tuan sent his thanks to AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC Board of Directors, and Executives for always supporting and paying attention to the development of the sports medicine system at VFF, as well as facilitating the quick appraisal and approval of the Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine of the Vinmec health system that meets the criteria needed to become an AFC Sports Medicine Center of Excellence.

“This is an important step for VFF’s medical work to meet the requirements of AFC/FIFA in health management, injury prevention, and treatment for football athletes in the competition, and training system of the federation. The center’s operation under the AFC Sports Medicine Center of Excellence standards is proof that it satisfies the highest requirements for medical assurance for international-level matches organized by AFC/FIFA in Vietnam shortly. This is also the basis for scientific and medical research activities in football, something that AFC always focuses on for its member federations”, President of Vietnam Football Federation Tran Quoc Tuan emphasized.

Sharing the same opinion as President of the Vietnam Football Federation Tran Quoc Tuan, Chairman of the AFC Medical Council – Dr. Dato‘ Gurcharan Singh added: “Caring for the health and medical benefits of the players is an important part of helping AFC realize the vision to ensure the success of the teams on the world stage. The expansion of the AFC Medical Centers of Excellence system not only enhances the range of services, accessibility, and level of care for players but also ensures more opportunities for clinical and medical collaboration and multidisciplinary knowledge exchange across the continent”. According to Dr. Dato’ Gurcharan Singh’s assessment, the fact that a medical unit like Vinmec achieved the AFC Sports Medicine Center of Excellence certification is very important, because this shows that Vietnamese medicine has met global standards in clinical practice in sports medicine recognized by AFC, athletes have been receiving health care with prestigious international standards. Access to international standard medical care at Vinmec will help attract and retain talented athletes for treatment in Vietnam, reducing the cost burden compared to treatment abroad.

Mr. Phung Nam Lam – PhD, physician, Deputy General Director of Vinmec Health System shared, the event of the Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Vinmec Times City was officially opened. Recognition as a Sports Medicine Center of Excellence according to the standards of the AFC is a testament to Vinmec’s highest efforts and commitment to developing traditional medicine in Vietnam. Previously, from 2022 until now, Vinmec CTCH & Traditional Medicine Center and VFF have signed a medical support contract for all national teams. Through this cooperation program, Vinmec has treated a series of players holding important positions in the national team, helping all of these players return to playing at a high level. At the same time, the Center also organized a training course on sports medicine knowledge in 2023 for 40 students who are medical staff from professional clubs, women’s football, and futsal to provide knowledge about prevention and treatment. Treating injuries for players and implementing sports medicine research activities with the football federation and universities.

AFC Sports Medicine Center of Excellence (AFC SMCE) certification is the highest standard system for medical facilities and hospitals that provide optimal health care for Asian football players and is a leader in clinical research, professional training, implementation of injury prevention measures as well as a model unit in the application of scientific and technical advances in Sports Medicine. These Centers play an important role in ensuring the health of football players in particular and sports people in general in Asia.

Up to now, AFC has 12 Medical Centers of Excellence across the continent, of which Vinmec Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in association with VFF is the first Center in Vietnam to achieve the Sports Medicine Center of Excellence Certification according to AFC standards. To achieve this Certification, Vinmec Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine has undergone rigorous appraisal rounds, ensuring the highest criteria in terms of infrastructure, clinical expertise, sports science support, emergency response capabilities, research, and education, as well as cooperation with the national association and compliance with AFC health regulations.