Uncle Ho's advice on medical ethics and the mission of a physician

2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the day Uncle Ho sent a letter to the conference of medical staff. On February 27, 1955, the conference of medical staff was held in Hanoi, but due to work, Uncle Ho could not attend. Instead, he sent a letter to the conference.

In the letter, Uncle Ho paid special attention to the medical staff, and at the same time gave some advice and suggestions. With the profound meaning of this letter, on February 6, 1985, the Council of Ministers (now the Government) issued a decision to make February 27 every year the Vietnamese Doctors' Day.

70 years since Uncle Ho wrote "Letter to the conference of medical staff" 1955

The letter was short and concise, only 368 words long. It was Uncle Ho's directive and also a suggestion for medical staff to discuss at the medical staff conference on February 27, 1955.

"First of all, we must be truly united - Unity is our strength. Unity helps us overcome all difficulties and achieve many successes.

Solidarity between old and new cadres. Solidarity between all people in the health sector from ministers, deputy ministers, doctors, pharmacists to the staff. Because although the work and position are different, everyone is a necessary part of the health sector, in serving the people.

Love the sick. The sick entrust their lives to you. The government entrusts you to treat illnesses and maintain the health of our people. This is a very honorable duty. Therefore, officials must love and care for the sick as if they were their own brothers and sisters, treating their pain as if it were their own. 'A good doctor must be like a mother' is a very true saying.

Building our own medicine - During the years when our country was enslaved, medicine, like other fields, was suppressed. Now that we are independent and free, cadres need to help our compatriots and the Government build a health care system that is appropriate to the needs of our people. Medicine must be based on the principles of science, nation, and mass.

Our ancestors had a lot of valuable experience in treating diseases with traditional medicine and oriental medicine. To expand the scope of medicine, you should also focus on researching and combining 'eastern' and 'western' medicine.

Imbued with and implementing President Ho Chi Minh's teachings, over the past 70 years, generations of Vietnamese doctors and the healthcare sector have always taken this as a motto for action and a responsibility to the people when assigned by the Party and beloved Uncle Ho.

Vietnam's health sector has continuously developed and matured in all aspects, from network organization to the quality of disease prevention and treatment, and protection of people's health.

The great contribution of the health sector has helped make Vietnam a bright spot in achieving the United Nations' millennium goals.

Uncle Ho's advice on medical ethics and the mission of a physician

Not only in the letter Uncle Ho wrote on February 27, 1955, but also in his speeches, articles, and letters during his lifetime, the phrase "A good doctor is like a mother" and the mission and responsibility of a doctor were mentioned many times by Uncle Ho.

March 1948, in“In a letter to the military medical conference, President Ho Chi Minh emphasized: “A doctor not only has the duty to treat illnesses but also to support the spirits of the sick.

Because of the excitement of battle, the harsh life in the army, the lack of self-cultivation, or the miserable conditions, some soldiers are not calm and are not polite to doctors. When we encounter such cases, we should use humanity and affection to move and transform them. There is a saying: 'A good doctor is like a kind mother,' meaning that a doctor must also be like a kind mother...."

In June 1953, in the “Letter to the 1953 National Conference of Medical Staff,” Uncle Ho pointed out: “Disease prevention is as important as disease treatment. To fulfill this duty, medical staff (doctors, nurses, and helpers) must: love the sick like brothers and sisters. They must wholeheartedly serve the people. Doctors must also be kind mothers.”

In February 1955, in the “Letter to the Conference of Health Workers,” Uncle Ho emphasized: “Solidarity between old and new cadres. Solidarity between all those in the health sector, from ministers, deputy ministers, doctors, pharmacists to the assistants. Because, although the work and position are different, everyone is a necessary part of the health sector, in serving the people.

... The sick entrust their lives to you. The government entrusts you to treat illnesses and maintain the health of our people. That is a very glorious task.

Therefore, cadres need to love and care for patients like their own siblings, considering their pain as their own pain."

On July 31, 1967, in the “Letter of Praise to Military Medical Officers and Staff,” President Ho Chi Minh wrote: “Always remember that a good doctor must also be a kind mother, wholeheartedly treating and serving wounded and sick soldiers, actively improving the health of soldiers, contributing with the entire army and people to promote the cause of fighting the US and saving the country to complete victory.”

This is the last letter he wrote to our country's health sector.

It can be affirmed that Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on medical ethics have been gradually concretized by our country's health sector to suit each situation and time, and have become the ethical foundation of all doctors, the ideological core of all activities to build and develop the country's health sector.

The year 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of Vietnam Doctors' Day. This is an opportunity for us to once again deeply understand Uncle Ho's practical teachings and feelings for the Vietnamese medical sector.