Technology enters the clinic
One of the biggest difficulties in treating lung cancer is that most patients are detected when the disease is in a late stage. Meanwhile, if diagnosed early and undergoing radical surgery, the survival rate after 5 years in the early stages can reach 20-30%. However, reality shows that about 85% of cases are only detected when the disease has progressed.
At Bach Mai Hospital, the case of patient N.T.T (male, 69 years old) is a typical example of the increasingly clear role of artificial intelligence (AI) in early diagnosis of lung cancer.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Cam Phuong - Director of the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Oncology, Bach Mai Hospital - shared: The patient was admitted to the hospital due to right lower back pain, diagnosed with kidney stones and treated for skin-to-skin stones at the Department of Urology Surgery. During the examination, the patient was examined with a CT scan of the chest and accidentally detected a blurry-glazed lesion in the upper lobe of the left lung. After that, the patient was transferred to the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Oncology - Bach Mai Hospital for in-depth assessment.
The chest CT results showed a patch of opaque glass damage, thoracic edge, size about 10×13mm. PET/CT recorded mild FDG absorption-increasing damage, easily confused with inflammatory damage. Before the atypical damage image, doctors used artificial intelligence systems to analyze multiple parameters on CT films. The results showed that the probability of malignant damage was up to about 97%.
On that basis, the professional council agreed to prescribe surgery. The patient underwent endoscopic surgery to remove the left lobe of the lung with lymph node drainage. After surgery, the patient was diagnosed with stage IA lung cancer, and was also prescribed tuberculosis treatment and periodic monitoring.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc said: Reality shows that AI is increasingly being widely applied in healthcare, especially in supporting diagnostic imaging, optimizing treatment regimens and improving hospital management efficiency. Many large hospitals have initially deployed AI in medical examination and treatment and achieved positive results.
In diagnostic imaging, some central-level hospitals have applied AI to support reading X-rays, CT, MRI, helping to detect lesions early and help doctors make decisions faster; at the same time, AI is also used to personalize cancer treatment regimens based on clinical data.
In addition, AI is integrated into electronic medical records management and remote medical examination and treatment, contributing to reducing administrative procedures, optimizing hospital operation and improving the quality of patient care, especially in remote and isolated areas. Currently, there are 130 medical examination and treatment facilities that have fully implemented electronic medical records and most of them apply non-cash payments in many forms.
Digital health transformation towards a healthy Vietnam
Implementing the major policies of the Party and Government on innovation and national digital transformation, Vietnam's healthcare industry is entering a period of acceleration with strong determination, aiming for the highest goal: Contributing to building a healthy Vietnam.
Digital transformation in healthcare is not simply bringing technology into hospitals, but a comprehensive revolution - from management thinking, methods of operating the healthcare system to how people access and enjoy healthcare services.
Based on Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation; Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW on a number of breakthrough solutions in protecting, caring for and improving people's health; along with resolutions and directives of the Government and the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health has issued many specific and synchronous plans to implement digital transformation throughout the sector.
The goal by 2030 is clearly defined: Digital health transformation in an effective, practical and breakthrough direction, contributing to completing the targets of caring for, protecting and improving people's health.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc added: The Ministry of Health focuses on effectively implementing the Digital Health Transformation Program to 2025, with orientations to 2030, closely linked to the Strategy for Development of e-Government towards Digital Government, Strategy for Development of Digital Economy and Digital Society. The focus is on building a smart healthcare system, managed by data and operating on a modern technology platform.
In the context of AI being increasingly widely applied in diagnosis, treatment and health management, the Ministry of Health clearly defines a dual goal: Both encouraging innovation and ensuring safety, ethics and legality in medical examination and treatment.
From a promotional perspective, AI is considered one of the key solutions to modernize the health system, towards precision medicine and therapeutic personalization. Development orientation focuses on three main pillars: Developing medical AI human resources; completing digital infrastructure and platforms; promoting research, testing and application of AI in clinical practice.
Many hospitals and research institutes have been and are coordinating with technology businesses to implement AI projects to serve diagnostic imaging, support treatment, manage chronic diseases and early screening of diseases.
However, along with encouragement is the requirement for strict control. The Ministry of Health is gradually completing the legal corridor for the application of AI in healthcare, especially related to data security, information security and medical ethics. AI products must be tested and evaluated for clinical effectiveness based on clear scientific evidence before being allowed to be widely used. This is a key factor to protect patients and maintain social trust in the digital healthcare system.
A major challenge of digital health transformation is to bring technology beyond central-level hospitals, truly spreading to grassroots healthcare - the place closest to the people. To solve this problem, the Ministry of Health is implementing many synchronous solutions, from promoting propaganda and guiding people, especially in remote and isolated areas, to completing the legal framework for commune and district-level healthcare to apply safe and effective technology. In parallel, investing in information technology infrastructure, connecting interconnected health data at all levels, ensuring information security, gradually deploying electronic medical records and remote medical examination and treatment.
