Building foundations for paediatric rehabilitation in Vietnam

Quang Binh TTH General Hospital is part of the fast-growing TTH hospital group in Dong Hoi city. In line with its goal of providing more inclusive healthcare, the hospital organised training sessions in specialised paediatric rehabilitation together with PUM. This medical field is only just emerging across the country. PUM expert Marije Bastiaansen, together with doctors and therapists, shared knowledge and developed essential skills for supporting children with physical and developmental challenges.

TTH Hospital opened its doors in 2023 and is one of five privately owned hospitals within the TTH group. It employs more than 600 professionals and offers a wide range of services, from general medicine and surgery to rehabilitation. While the facilities and equipment are modern, the management identified a crucial gap: their teams lacked specialised knowledge in rehabilitation therapy, in particularly for children and cancer patients.

Together with PUM the hospital launched a “train-the-trainers” project to equip selected staff with deeper expertise. Through this approach, TTH aims to establish a lasting foundation for high-quality rehabilitation care, enabling staff to share knowledge with colleagues across their network of hospitals.

Sharing knowledge for real impact

During a two-week programme in September 2025, Marije worked alongside local doctors, nurses, and caregivers. The sessions covered key aspects of paediatric physical therapy, from early detection and neurological examination to practical exercises for children with conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism and developmental coordination disorder.

Each morning focused on theory, while the afternoons were dedicated to hands-on sessions with children from the local Special Needs School and the state-funded Shelter for orphans and children with disabilities. Group sizes ranged from 35 to 60 participants, reflecting the hospital’s strong commitment to develop.

Although the language barrier initially posed challenges, the atmosphere gradually became open and engaging. “People were very modest at first,” Marije shared, “but once the ice was broken, the engagement was remarkable. Participants became curious, asked questions, and showed genuine motivation to improve.”

A seed for the future

For many participants, paediatric rehabilitation was a completely new concept. The training not only introduced therapy methods but also highlighted the broader principle of inclusion, ensuring that children with disabilities can participate fully in daily life. Videos and case discussions supported the translation of this concept into practical care approaches.

The collaboration also inspired wider ambitions. The hospital management now plans to develop a dedicated paediatric rehabilitation department, making TTH Quang Binh the first hospital in its province to offer such specialised care. The TTH Rehabilitation Centre in Vinh City, already a large and well-equipped facility, could become a regional knowledge hub for future courses.

Collaboration that continues

The outcomes of this first collaboration are promising and already visible. Therapists have begun applying new methods in their daily routines and are eager for continued learning. A remote follow-up programme is being explored, enabling ongoing knowledge exchange between TTH and PUM experts for the next six months.