The Vietnamese government is currently expanding the implementation of electronic medical record systems throughout the country.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Trinh, who heads the National Committee for Digital Transformation, made the announcement earlier this month, according to state media.
larger context
Vietnam piloted the digitalization of patient medical records in hospitals in 2019. Until last year, EHRs were issued at major hospitals in cities and provinces. Over the next four years, the government plans to gradually introduce EHRs to all hospitals and healthcare facilities in the country.
The Prime Minister’s latest announcement followed recent pilots of a government-developed EHR platform in the capital Hanoi and Thua Thien Hue province. Implementation of the FHIR-based platform was approved last year.
Based on data from the Ministry of Public Security, more than 32 million health records have been digitized to date. Approximately 14 million people have integrated their EHR with the electronic identification app VNeID. The government aims to save up to $45 million by eliminating paper records and implementing an EHR system.
The Prime Minister said accelerating the digital transformation of the health system is consistent with the nation’s determination to actively participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. One way to achieve this is by acquiring resources from international partners. The government recently secured a digital health transformation partnership with Microsoft and Australia’s Swinburne University of Technology.
