Nearly 1,500 leading medical specialists from 36 countries and territories gathered in Ha Noi yesterday for the 10th Meeting of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia (ELSA 2010).

Opening the meeting, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen stressed the importance and development of endola-paroscopic surgery in the medical sector since the technology was first applied in the 1980s, and the achievements made by Vietnamese surgeons and scientists.

The meeting was an opportunity for Vietnamese specialists to meet with colleagues from regional countries and across the world, helping the Vietnamese medical sector integrate internationally, the deputy minister said.

The three-day meeting heard almost 500 reports on advanced endolaparoscopy, presenting the latest and most important achievements at global and regional healthcare centres. Vietnamese specialists also presented new achievements in endolaparoscopy in the country.

In addition, the delegates participated in an interactive television programme on endolaparoscopic surgery from the Viet Nam-Germany Hospital and the Central Paediatrics Hospital, and attended the launching ceremony of the Exhibition Centre for Medical Instruments and Pharmaceuticals.

Later that day, delegates were received by President Nguyen Minh Triet, who affirmed the Party and State's interest in the medical sector and its commitment to ongoing investment in it.

Although poor and war-devastated, Viet Nam has almost completed the UN Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule, with outstanding achievements in healthcare and poverty reduction.

President Triet welcomed international delegates to ELSA 2010, saying they brought to Vietnamese people friendly sentiments from international friends and shared experiences on the world's most advanced medicine with Vietnamese colleagues.

He said he hoped other countries would help Viet Nam to train doctors, recommend well-known professors and scientists to work and lecture in Viet Nam and invest in healthcare, in order to help Viet Nam build modern centres.

International delegates spoke highly of recent developments in Viet Nam's medical sector, including endolaparoscopic surgery and Vietnamese doctors' skills, that have helped reduce the number of Vietnamese people seeking treatment abroad.—VNS