SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE DIGEST

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005647984
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: May 27, 2011
• Case Number: F-2010-01312
• Publication Date: October 1, 1968

(b)(1)
(b)(3)
DIRECTORATE OF
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
SCIE.I\TTI~I~C IT'~'ELLI~G~~ I~I~~S'Iy
APPROVED FOR
RELEASES DATE:
16-May-2011
 g`P
NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMY./VIET CONE MILITARY MEDICAL CAPABILITIES*
SiJMhikRY AND:COIVCLUSiONS
NVA/Viet Cong units in South Vietnam
place co"nsiderable emphasis. on. evacuation:of
their .personnel wounded in 'combat. This
program has been relatively successful, 'and in
-spite of delay:in defuutive treatment, medical
care that they afford is acceptable by
indigenous standards in Southeast: Asia.
Effective medical care for combat personnel
probably will continue under the present level
of activities -if there is no ;major.epidemic, if
sanctuaries are gemutted in rieighboring
countries, . .and if .there is no major
interruption of supply routes through Laos
and :Cambodia.
There.is a planned and organized effort on
the part of the NVAJVC to provide for
evacuation and treatment of battlefield
casualties. A' hierazchy of battalion,
.regimental, and divisional level aid stations
and hospitals has"been>established~to evacuate
and treat 'sick' and wounded .troops. The
organization of each medical unit is
.dependent upon the military .unit to .which it
is :a signed; duties vary from;:giving support to
small VC guerrilla-types to NVA divisions
operating predominantly in the north near the
DMZ.
:The .military medical system is similar in
principle ..to the US system where care is first
provided by an aid .man. at platoon level, then
at a .battalion aid station where some surgical
capability is provided, at regimental level
-where patients may be kept a maximum of 15
days, and finally at regional or provincial
hospitals..Initial treatment and evacuation of
wounded is a major problem. In forward
areas, evacuation is .usually accomplished by
.laborers traveling on foot; and there is often
considerable delay before a patient receives
definitive. caze. For example, in an extreme
case, 42 percent of the .wounded were not
treated for over 26 hours after one major
engagement.
The VC have a well organized, coordinated
medical .supply system, receiving supplies
from Communist and Free World countries
and from within South V. ietnam itself. This
.system has been maintained on a priority
basis; often at the expense of the population
in North Vietnam. There is, however,
increasing evidence of shortages of medical
SID b8-i0
Oct 68
 supplies and equipmei-t. In addition, in recent
months the Viet Cong medical civic action
program has`been affected`,by the-accelerated
warfare ~ and -tias suffered becsiise . of the
priority. given to combat personnel:
The :high incidence of endemic diseases in
areas under VC control continues to tax their.
medical care . system. Despite an active
preventive medicine :program, diseases. cause
more casualties among ttie Viet Cong when
compared with battle wounds except during
.sustained battles. This is especially true in
South Vietnam where VC medical facilities
are more limited than in North Vietnam and.
where the fluid tactical situation makes
prophylaxis against communicable .diseases
and maintenance of sanitary procedures
difficult to control. Viet Cong medical
facilities would be seriously strained if
combat activities on regimental or divisional
scale were carried on; since battle wounds
generally. result in a more prolonged
SID 68-7 Q
Oct 68
-28-
arnncm
'QLCl~r