Da Nang’s healthcare sector is developing a plan to implement digital transformation tasks and the “Smart Healthcare Development” project in the city. This activity aims to help the local healthcare sector continue to enhance the quality of medical examination and treatment through specific goals, as well as form a smart healthcare system on all three main pillars, including a smart disease prevention system, a smart medical examination and treatment system, and a smart healthcare management system.

According to the municipal Department of Health, the application of information technology (IT) in healthcare facilities in recent times is connecting medical data bit by bit, thereby forming a digital healthcare infrastructure platform.

To date, 100% of incoming and outgoing documents have been handled in the online environment. 100% of eligible public services online have been provided at level 4. 100% of medical examination and treatment facilities have had a hospital management software system. 100% of medical stations have used unified management software. 100% of pharmacies have been connected to the National Pharmaceutical Database System.

These utilities and innovations have facilitated people to easily access medical information, reduce administrative procedures and ensure fairness when performing medical services. Patients also receive transparency in paying for medical services.

However, the local healthcare sector still faces many limitations and difficulties in performing this digital transformation task. In particular, the sector still encounters a shortage of IT human resources, and a lack of investment in infrastructure and equipment.

Some of the infrastructure has so far been degraded. Data has been fragmented. Financial mechanism problems in investment and procurement, and issues of network safety and security have not been resolved. The systems deployed by the Ministry of Health have not yet implemented data interconnection, causing difficulties for the municipal Department of Health in completing the database.

In April 2024, the Da Nang People's Committee issued the Smart Healthcare Development Project with a total budget of more than VND488 billion.

The purpose of the project is to build and gradually form a smart disease prevention system, as well as support people to easily access medical information in order to use highly effective medical services, be protected and cared for, and improve their health throughout their lives.

At the same time, the project contributes to improving the quality of medical examination and treatment, and promoting the IT application at medical examination and treatment facilities; speeding up administrative reform and reducing hospital overload; transitioning from paper to electronic medical records; and forming smart hospitals.

Dr. Tran Thanh Thuy, Director of the municipal Department of Health, said that in recent years, the healthcare sector has continuously invested in facilities, specialised techniques, and human resources.

The issuance of a separate project on developing smart healthcare is an extremely important and necessary basis for the local healthcare sector to continue to improve and enhance the quality of medical examination and treatment.

Under the project, the healthcare sector builds a plan according to a roadmap with specific tasks such as developing IT infrastructure, a smart primary healthcare and disease prevention system, a smart medical examination and treatment system, a smart medical management system, and a database on continuous training to reach 100%. The rate of people with a unique medical ID code and personal electronic health records will reach 100%.

According to Dr. Thuy, the local healthcare sector sets a target that 100% of medical facilities citywide will deploy cashless payments by 2025. 100% of medical examination and treatment facilities will carry out online medical examination and treatment registration. 50% of hospitals in the city will implement electronic medical records, and non-cash payments.

Furthermore, the city strives to reach level 6 in the group of IT infrastructure criteria according to Circular No. 54/2017/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health in hospitals, aiming for smart hospitals.

The purpose of digital transformation is for managers to operate the system effectively; for medical staff to improve their professional qualifications, and manage their work effectively; and for people to access and use convenient and quality medical services.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG - Translating by M.DUNG, V.DUNG