A groundbreaking ceremony for construction of second branches of the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital and Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital in Phu Ly, Ha Nam province was held on December 13.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung takes part in the groundbreaking ceremony of Viet Duc & Bach Mai hospital's construction (Photo: SGGP)

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and leaders of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Construction and Ha Nam Province attended the event.

The second branches of the two hospitals will cover an area of 21 hectares with a floor area of nearly 120,000 square meters.

The new hospitals will provide 1,000 beds and are invested in a total capital of nearly VND5 trillion (US$235 million). The first phase of construction is expected to be completed in December, 2017.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, PM Nguyen Tan Dung said that the two new branches of the Vietnam-Germany Friendship and Bach Mai hospitals will help ease the overload and improve medical care for patients in the region..