Hanoi, Vietnam, January 19, 2026 - To enhance the quality of care and treatment for stroke patients in Vietnam, the Department of Medical Services Administration (DMSA) under the Ministry of Health — represented by Dr. Nguyen Trong Khoa, MD, PhD, Deputy Director General, and Medtronic Vietnam, represented by Mr. Mongkol Sankum, Senior Country Director, Medtronic Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos — signed an inaugural Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the “Program to Enhance the Quality of Stroke Care and Treatment in Vietnam,” planned for implementation from 2026 to 2029.

According to the World Health Organization¹, stroke was the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide in 2021, with an estimated 93.8 million deaths. Over the past two decades, the lifetime risk of stroke has increased by 50%, and it is estimated that one in four adults will experience a stroke in their lifetime. Most of the global stroke burden stems from 10 modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, air pollution, smoking, high LDL cholesterol, high sodium intake, elevated fasting glucose, kidney dysfunction, obesity, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption.

This collaboration reinforces the strong commitment between the public and private sectors to jointly address the burden of stroke — the leading cause of death and disability in Vietnam, with 196,000² new cases, 167,000³ deaths, and 1,275,000⁴ prevalent cases recorded in 2021.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan - Deputy Minister of Health; and attended by Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director General of the Department of Medical Services Administration; along with various departments and hospitals. Representatives from stroke associations across the country were also present, including Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thong, President of the Vietnam Stroke Association; and Prof. Dr. Mai Duy Ton, President of the Hanoi Stroke Association.

Representing Medtronic Vietnam was Mr. Mongkol Sankum, Senior Country Director for Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, along with leaders from relevant Medtronic business units.

Under the MoU, Medtronic Vietnam will work closely with the Ministry of Health to strengthen stroke treatment capacity through (1) clinical training programs designed to upskill physicians, transfer technology, and update treatment practices in line with international standards; (2) develop a standardized clinical criteria for stroke care assessment, serving as a unified framework for hospitals to evaluate and improve patient management pathways consistently and effectively; (3) strengthen the national stroke care network by connecting stroke centers and coordinating efforts to standardize patient triage, referral, and treatment workflows, with the overall aim of reducing time-to-treatment during the “golden hour.” The adoption of advanced technologies, data solutions, and clinical decision‑support tools is also identified as a key priority, helping enhance diagnostic accuracy, treatment effectiveness, and patient management across all levels of the healthcare system.

In parallel, Medtronic will support the establishment of an integrated stroke care network by connecting stroke centers and helping standardize patient triage, referral, and treatment workflows — all aimed at shortening time-to-treatment during the “golden hour.” The collaboration will also promote the adoption of advanced technologies, data solutions, and clinical decision-support tools to enhance diagnostic accuracy, treatment effectiveness, and overall patient management across different levels of the healthcare system.

Beyond the clinical initiatives, Medtronic will collaborate with the Department of Medical Services Administration on public health communication and education efforts to raise community awareness about stroke prevention, support early recognition of warning signs, improve understanding of risk factors, and encourage proactive preventive behaviors.

The combination of clinical capacity building, system standardization, and strengthened health education is expected to form the foundation for a comprehensive and sustainable stroke care ecosystem in Vietnam.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Nguyen Trong Khoa, MD, PhD — Deputy Director General of the Department of Medical Services Administration — emphasized: "The healthcare systeam continues to make strong efforts to expand the network of stroke centers, not only in numbers but also in quality, aligning with international standards of care. Standardizing treatment protocols, developing new stroke units, and enhancing technology adoption are crucial to ensuring that patients receive timely emergency care within the ‘golden hour’, thereby reducing the burden on families and society. We highly appreciate Medtronic’s partnership in supporting clinical training, technology transfer, and sharing global best practices to improve stroke treatment quality in Vietnam."

Mr. Mongkol Sankum, Senior Country Director of Medtronic Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, shared, "Today’s signing ceremony represents not only a significant milestone in our collaboration with the Ministry of Health, but also a collective step toward a shared vision - improving the quality of stroke care and treatment for patients across Vietnam. This MoU underscores Medtronic’s commitment to working alongside the government and hospitals to enhance treatment capacity and bring medical innovation and modern technology closer to patients in every region. We believe that strengthening clinical training, standardizing care models, and increasing community awareness will drive meaningful and lasting impact — not only improving treatment quality but also contributing to a more equitable, effective, and sustainable stroke care ecosystem."

Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thong, President of the Vietnam Stroke Association affirmed: “The Vietnam Stroke Association will cooperate with the Hanoi Stroke Association, the Ho Chi Minh City Stroke Association, and healthcare facilities nationwide to provide expertise and technical support, and to work alongside the Department of Medical Services Administration and Medtronic Vietnam in implementing this collaboration program.”

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It is expressly agreed and understood by the Parties that the MOH partnership is not for the purpose of marketing or promoting any of Medtronic’s products or services.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. 

Contacts:
Priscilla Soh
Southeast Asia Communications
+65 9730 7102

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¹ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/stroke
² (95% confidence interval: 183,000 to 209,000 cases)
³ (140.000 to 193.000 cases)
⁴ (1.238.000 to 1.318.000 cases)