Fetal medicine has advanced rapidly over the past two decades, enabling clinicians to diagnose, monitor, and treat specific congenital conditions while a fetus is still inside the uterus. According to presentations at the International Conference on Fetal Medicine (ICFM 2026), held in Hanoi from August 6 to August 8, modern medical technologies such as advanced ultrasound, fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), next-generation genetic testing, and minimally invasive intrauterine procedures have transformed prenatal care from passive observation into active fetal intervention.
Global Experts Convene in Hanoi for ICFM 2026
The International Conference on Fetal Medicine brought together international specialists and hundreds of Vietnamese doctors and scientists to discuss the domestic development of fetal medicine and prenatal genetics. The event was organized by Phenikaa University Hospital (PhenikaaMec) in collaboration with Phenikaa University and the Vietnam Association of Medical Genetics (VAMG), with professional support from the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis (ISPD).
A central highlight of the conference series was a national strategy forum focused on development models, workforce training, process standardization, and international cooperation. While Vietnam has achieved significant progress in prenatal diagnosis and select fetal intervention techniques, international scientific advancements demand the creation of specialized centers, rigorous workforce training, and expanded global partnerships to establish continuous care systems for complex fetal conditions.
Multidisciplinary Care Models and Advanced Training
Experts emphasized that advanced equipment and procedural skills alone are insufficient for modern fetal medicine. Comprehensive evaluation requires assessing disease severity, risks to the mother, postnatal treatment availability, and long-term child management. Consequently, international and domestic centers increasingly operate under multidisciplinary models. These frameworks integrate obstetrics, fetal medicine, genetics, diagnostic imaging, anesthesia, resuscitation, neonatology, and pediatric surgery to ensure accurate diagnoses, appropriate treatment selections, and structured postnatal follow-up plans.
Training sessions at Phenikaa University Hospital covered patient selection principles for fetal interventions, the handling of specialized equipment such as endoscopes, catheters, and balloons, and ultrasound-guided techniques.
International Faculty and Strategic Partnerships
The conference featured prominent figures in fetal medicine and prenatal genetics.
On August 7, a major institutional milestone was achieved with the signing of a tripartite memorandum of understanding between PhenikaaMec, the ISPD, and the VAMG, designed to strengthen professional cooperation, educational programs, and network development across Vietnam's medical community.
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