At the main national sport centre in Ha Noi, each doctor has to take care of between 80 and 90 athletes.

More serious injuries are treated at the general hospital.

The Viet Nam Sports Hospital, which opened in 2007, was the first of its kind in the country. The hospital, which was built on the National Sports Complex campus, cost VND50 billion (US$3.14 million).

The hospital contains state-of-the-art equipment and has 100 beds, along with a surgical unit, physiotherapy centre and oriental medicine unit, as well as a special dope-testing facility.

Duong Nghiep Chi, the former director of the Viet Nam Sport Science Institute, said the shortage of specialist medical facilities for athletes meant recovery time was often longer than it should be. Taekwondo artist Hoang Ha Giang, who won a gold medal at the World Youth Championship in Viet Nam in 2007, had to retire sick from the Beijing Olympics in 2008. She was later diagnosed as suffering from a virus which affects the muscles.

Earlier, rower Vu Dang Tuan, who won a silver medal at the Asian Championship, could not take part in the Olympic qualifiers because of congenital heart disease.

Meanwhile, top athletes Nguyen Huu Viet, who won three gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games in 2005, 2007 and 2009, and Asian silver medallist Vu Thi Huong, who shone in regional sports events, have yet to have their heart rates, strength and fitness officially tested.

Le Quy Phuong, the director of the Viet Nam Sports Hospital, said medical staff should be sent abroad for training for five to ten years.

The Sport Science Institute enrols just 15-20 students each year.

VietNamNet/VNS