Medical Saigon Group and the Saigon Eye Hospital System are the world’s first ophthalmology healthcare system to achieve JCI Enterprise accreditation

Medical Saigon Group (MSG) has set a new milestone for Vietnam’s healthcare sector by becoming the world’s first ophthalmology healthcare system to achieve JCI Enterprise accreditation.

At the same time, four member hospitals were awarded Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation for hospitals, reaffirming their ability to deliver consistent quality management in accordance with international standards.

A New Milestone for Vietnam’s Healthcare Sector

Medical Saigon Group has become the first ophthalmology healthcare system in Vietnam and worldwide to achieve JCI Enterprise Accreditation. This accreditation is awarded to multi-site healthcare systems that demonstrate consistent governance, quality management, and patient safety standards across all member hospitals.

Prof. Tran Van Thuan, MD, PhD, Deputy Minister of Health and Chairman of the National Medical Council, delivered the keynote address.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan stated that international integration in healthcare is not only about adopting advanced technologies, but more importantly about transforming governance, fostering a culture of quality, and ensuring patient safety.

He emphasized that hospital quality is determined not only by infrastructure and clinical expertise, but also by governance systems, clinical processes, patient safety, data-driven management, and a culture of continuous improvement. The Ministry of Health’s recognition of international quality standards such as JCI and the development of Vietnam’s advanced hospital quality standards demonstrate the sector’s shift from meeting minimum requirements to pursuing continuous improvement and global integration.

The Deputy Minister also commended pioneering healthcare organizations, including Medical Saigon Group (MSG), for adopting international standards. He noted that such efforts not only strengthen their own position but also help drive quality improvement across Vietnam’s entire healthcare system.

JCI Representatives Present Accreditations to Medical Saigon Group and Its Member Hospitals

JCI’s accreditation requirements are among the most rigorous in global healthcare, requiring organizations to consistently meet the highest standards of quality and patient safety. In particular, no measurable element under the International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs) may be rated as non-compliant.

For JCI Enterprise Accreditation—the accreditation program for multi-site healthcare systems—all member hospitals must operate under a unified quality philosophy, standardized clinical and operational processes, and a shared clinical risk management framework. Each hospital is also independently assessed by JCI surveyors.

Among the accredited hospitals, Saigon Eye Hospital Can Tho is the first ophthalmology hospital in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta to achieve JCI accreditation; Saigon Eye Hospital Nha Trang is the first in the South Central Coast region; Saigon Eye Hospital Vinh is the first in the North Central region; while Saigon Eye Hospital Ngo Gia Tu further reinforces its position as one of the flagship ophthalmology hospitals within the Group.

The simultaneous achievement of JCI accreditation by all four hospitals, together with the Group’s recognition as a JCI Enterprise, demonstrates that quality has become a standardized operating model across the entire network rather than being dependent on individual facilities.

To reach this milestone, Medical Saigon Group underwent more than 20 months of preparation, completed four rounds of internal assessments, standardized hundreds of accreditation requirements, and successfully passed independent on-site evaluations conducted by JCI surveyors at each member hospital.

International Standards Centered on the Patient

According to Dr. Hoang Trung Kien, MD, Specialist Level II, Senior Executive Director of Medical Affairs, Medical Saigon Group, the greatest challenge of achieving JCI Enterprise Accreditation was not developing compliant policies and procedures, but fostering a unified culture of quality that is consistently practiced across the entire healthcare system.

JCI Representatives Present JCI Enterprise Accreditation to Medical Saigon Group Leadership

“JCI Enterprise Accreditation provides us with an invaluable opportunity to benchmark our performance and continuously improve. However, the principle that has always guided us is a steadfast commitment to continuous improvement and placing patients at the center of every decision,” said Dr. Hoang Trung Kien, MD, Specialist Level II, Senior Executive Director of Medical Affairs, Medical Saigon Group.

He added that, alongside standardizing quality across the Group, Medical Saigon Group is accelerating the adoption and transfer of advanced ophthalmic technologies, including corneal transplantation, artificial intelligence (AI), digital health solutions, and myopia management technologies. These initiatives are designed to enhance clinical accuracy, improve patient safety, and progressively narrow the technological gap between Vietnam’s ophthalmology sector and leading international healthcare systems.

The event was honored to welcome Prof. Tran Van Thuan, MD, PhD, Deputy Minister of Health and Chairman of the National Medical Council; Dr. Ha Anh Duc, MD, PhD, Director General of the Medical Services Administration, Ministry of Health, and Vice Chairman of the National Medical Council; and Dr. Huynh Minh Chin, MD, Specialist Level II, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health.

According to Mr. Huynh Le Duc, Chief Executive Officer of Medical Saigon Group, JCI Enterprise Accreditation is not the destination, but a long-term operating standard for the entire healthcare system.

“When every hospital across our network is measured against the same international standards, quality is no longer a promise—it becomes a principle embedded in every consultation, every surgical procedure, and every patient interaction. International standards should not be a privilege reserved for those who can travel abroad for treatment; they should be accessible to every Vietnamese patient here in Vietnam,” Mr. Huynh said.

After more than 22 years of development, Medical Saigon Group has grown into a network of 36 hospitals and clinics across 18 provinces and cities in Vietnam. The Group encompasses several leading healthcare brands, including Cao Thang Eye Hospital, the first ophthalmology hospital in Vietnam to achieve and continuously maintain JCI Accreditation since 2009.

Its Saigon Eye Hospital System, a member of the World Association of Eye Hospitals (WAEH), is also the only ophthalmology representative from Vietnam to receive the “Specialty Hospital of the Year – Vietnam” award at the Healthcare Asia Awards for four consecutive years (2023–2026).

“Becoming the world’s first ophthalmology healthcare system to achieve JCI Enterprise Accreditation further reinforces our commitment to international standards while contributing to Vietnam’s broader goals of improving healthcare quality and advancing the country’s medical tourism sector,” Mr. Huynh emphasized.

Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Mr. Nick Liew (Representative of Joint Commission International), Dr. Huynh Minh Chin, and the Leadership of Medical Saigon Group during the panel discussion.

Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director General of the Medical Services Administration under the Ministry of Health, stated that the Ministry is developing an Advanced Hospital Quality Standards Framework, building upon Vietnam’s existing quality criteria while aligning with internationally recognized standards such as JCI.

According to Dr. Ha, Vietnam possesses significant advantages, including a highly qualified medical workforce, modern healthcare infrastructure, competitive treatment costs, and shorter waiting times. As more hospitals achieve international accreditation, the overall quality of the healthcare system will continue to improve, strengthening patient confidence while creating a solid foundation for attracting international patients and advancing Vietnam’s medical tourism industry.