The doctor built the endoscope

That was Dr. Nguyen Phuoc Huy, Deputy Director of Cao Cao Thang Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), who was just honored to receive the title of Asians of the year 2006 voted by Media Corp - Singapore.

Also voted in this program, there are 8 typical Asian characters and events that have contributed to the development of science, including names like BR. Shuntaro Hida - Director of Hibakusha Counseling Center (Japan); Prof. Arff Bongso and graduate student Mark Richards (National University of Singapore) .

Graduating in medical specialty in ear, nose and throat in 1988, Dr. Nguyen Phuoc Huy returned to work at Hong Ngu District Hospital (Dong Thap) and stayed there for 17 years. In the condition of facilities lacking of medical facilities, he had a lot of concerns, thereby putting the first steps into the path of scientific research in order to improve equipment to serve the medical needs of the people. .

Dr. Nguyen Phuoc Huy with the endoscopic machine he invented (Photo: TTO)

He recounted that in 1999, he took a course on laparoscopic surgery. At that time, he and his colleagues could only ' learn vegetarian ' through the screen and not touch the machine (because the price of the machine is too high from 50,000-100,000 USD, afraid of being damaged). In 2000, he was again sent by the agency to train another endoscopic lock. Once again, 'learn vegetarian'. Therefore, knowledge comprehension is only ' shelved ' and cannot be applied to work.

The number of patients with lower levels overloaded, the equipment did not meet the requirements, the roads were far away, and sometimes he was heartbroken when he saw patients being transferred in critical condition. In front of such a pressing reality, many nights he wondered, if he sat . waiting, he would know when he could get the necessary equipment. And incidentally, one day sitting in front of a computer suddenly flashed the idea of ​​how to put the computer application into endoscopic techniques. From this flashy idea led him to research and manufacture endoscopy made in Vietnam .

He began to study this work since 2001. Many people have insinuated distant that he fished at the bottom of the sea. But with enthusiasm, passion and challenges of public opinion, he could not return. He had been able to dig and know where to go, use his knowledge in scientific fields, pore over many tests, try and make improvements in unfavorable conditions. With nearly 200 million dong of construction costs, the first complete endoscopic system was launched in 2003. In this year, he also received the copyright certificate and was awarded the title of Creative Labor in the patriotic emulation movement by the General Confederation of Labor.

Dr. Huy said that this project, in addition to meeting the technical standards of modern international endoscopes, is on the market as a clear, color image, it has two other outstanding advantages: set the circuit to adjust the camera's brightness; Adjustable center and magnification of endoscopic images. These are two advantages that the endoscopic system in the world has not met. Meanwhile, the price of this machine is only 1/5 compared to imported machines.

But in fact, the 'my child has a heavy burden of pain ' of Huy Huy, even if he has enough feathered wings, cannot fly far. He decided to move his work to Ho Chi Minh City with a strong desire to make his invention known to many people and to have the opportunity to serve a large number of poor people. His co-workers understood his desire to spread his arms. In September 2005, he wrapped his towel in Ho Chi Minh City looking for opportunities with his desire to put his invention into practical operation. He headed to Cao Thang Eye Hospital.

And so far, Phuoc Huy branded endoscope has been used by many colleagues in Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta provinces and highly appreciated. In 2007, Dr. Huy and his enthusiastic friends made a project and went into mass production to meet the needs of the market.

Speaking to Media Corp correspondent, Dr. Huy said: ' I always think about how to help disadvantaged patients across the globe benefit from high-tech equipment at an affordable cost. '. If this project is widely applied in practice, it will quickly solve the problem of improving the quality of the grassroots health network, bringing high technology to remote areas and reducing costs for patients. Easily.

NGUYEN HA