Ho Chi Minh City’s healthcare sector is making significant progress in digital transformation, aiming to establish a smart healthcare system that enhances efficiency, accessibility and convenience for patients.
The adoption of digital technologies is streamlining medical processes, reducing administrative burdens and improving patient outcomes. This transformation aligns with global healthcare trends, ensuring that the city remains at the forefront of medical innovation.
One of the key advancements is the widespread implementation of electronic medical records (EMRs). Hospitals across the city have transitioned to digital record-keeping, ensuring that patient information is securely stored while remaining easily accessible and transferrable between healthcare facilities.
According to the municipal Department of Health, this digitisation has led to shorter diagnostic and treatment times, allowing medical professionals to focus more on patient care while minimising medical errors. Patients also benefit from faster access to their medical history, improving overall healthcare experiences.
Telemedicine has also become an integral part of healthcare services in Ho Chi Minh City. Many hospitals have established remote consultation systems, linking healthcare stations with specialists at general and specialised hospitals. This initiative provides invaluable support for complex medical cases and enables continued education for healthcare workers at local stations.
In addition to consultations, telemedicine facilitates remote training, the sharing of medical expertise, updates on treatment protocols and ongoing professional development for hospitals in the southern region. These advancements help reduce patient wait times and improve healthcare accessibility for underserved communities.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly crucial role in modernising healthcare services. Several hospitals in the city are pioneering AI applications in diagnostics and treatment. Binh Dan Hospital has successfully introduced robotic surgery, enhancing precision and reducing recovery times. Military Hospital 175 employs robotic technology for bone biopsies in difficult-to-access areas, improving accuracy and patient safety.
Additionally, AI-driven imaging diagnostics, including X-rays, CT scans and MRIs, are improving diagnostic accuracy at multiple hospitals. The Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital has integrated AI-assisted radiation therapy planning, ensuring more precise treatments while reducing treatment time. AI is also being explored for predictive analytics, helping doctors detect diseases at earlier stages.
A notable breakthrough in emergency care has been the application of AI RAPID software at Nhan Dan 115 Hospital. The hospital is the first in Vietnam to use this technology for thrombolysis interventions, which allows doctors to provide life-saving treatment for cerebral infarction patients within six hours of hospital admission. This innovation significantly enhances survival rates and reduces the risk of long-term complications. The hospital aims to expand AI usage to other critical care areas in the future.
Beyond hospital care, digital transformation is also benefiting public health management and epidemic prevention. Since 2016, the Ho Chi Minh City Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has utilised a Geographic Information System (GIS) to track and manage infectious diseases effectively.
By analysing data in real time, the system enables authorities to detect outbreaks early, implement timely interventions and coordinate response efforts efficiently. This proactive approach has strengthened the city’s ability to combat emerging health threats.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the municipal Department of Health, stressed the need for a smart healthcare system while acknowledging challenges like infrastructure, workforce training and data security. He reaffirmed the city’s commitment to digital transformation for a more efficient and transparent healthcare system.
With ongoing efforts to integrate technology into healthcare, Ho Chi Minh City is setting a benchmark for digital innovation in the medical field. The continued adoption of AI, telemedicine and data-driven healthcare solutions is expected to further enhance patient care, streamline operations and improve overall public health outcomes. By embracing cutting-edge solutions, the city is paving the way for a future-ready healthcare ecosystem.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Samaya Dharmaraj
Quelle/Source: Open Gov, 10.03.2025
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