Vietnam Boosts Healthcare with Digital Records
Vietnam, Thursday, 12 December 2024.
Vietnam is implementing digital health records to improve healthcare quality, aiming for universal coverage and reduced operational costs, impacting patient management and efficiency.
Significant Progress in Health Coverage
Vietnam has made remarkable strides in healthcare accessibility, with personal health insurance coverage reaching 93% of the population in 2023, a dramatic increase from 46% in 2008 [1]. The country’s latest digital initiative, launched through the VNeID app in October 2024, has already resulted in the creation of 32.1 million digital health record accounts, with 14.6 million successfully integrated into the system [1]. This digital transformation represents a crucial step in Vietnam’s journey toward comprehensive healthcare management.
Revolutionary Changes at Major Hospitals
In November 2024, Bach Mai Hospital emerged as a pioneer in this digital transformation, becoming one of Hanoi’s first public hospitals to implement electronic medical records [1]. The hospital, which manages between 7,000 and 10,000 outpatients and approximately 4,000 inpatients daily, expects to eliminate nearly US$2 million in annual imaging film costs through this transition [1]. According to hospital officials, this digital shift not only improves management efficiency but also enables medical staff to access patient information more rapidly [1].
Addressing Current Challenges
The implementation faces several hurdles, particularly in remote and rural areas where healthcare facilities are often underfunded and staff may lack necessary qualifications [1]. As illustrated by Ha Vu, a 40-year-old street food seller with chronic conditions, the current system’s fragmentation creates challenges in tracking medical histories effectively [1]. The new digital system aims to address these issues by centralizing patient information and enabling better continuity of care.
Future Outlook and Implementation
The Vietnamese government has set ambitious targets for early 2025, aiming to integrate electronic health records across all public and private healthcare facilities, with an expected adoption by 40 million people [1]. This initiative aligns with global digital health trends, where experts emphasize that digitization should be viewed as a strategic investment rather than an expense [1]. The integration with the VNeID app, which has already garnered over 57 million registrations since its 2022 launch, demonstrates Vietnam’s commitment to comprehensive digital healthcare transformation [1].