Urgent task of the medical sector
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc emphasized that deploying electronic medical records is a key task, helping to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment, bringing benefits to people and medical facilities. The system must ensure data connection between facilities, meeting safety and security requirements. The Ministry of Health requires that by September 2025, all hospitals nationwide must apply electronic medical records.
Many hospitals in the Hanoi Health Sector have promoted the application of information technology in management and operation, considering the implementation of electronic medical records as an important step towards a smart hospital model.
To date, 21/42 public hospitals under the Hanoi Department of Health have completed electronic medical records. Hospitals have invested in modern facilities and equipment, synchronizing information management software systems, testing, imaging diagnosis, connecting data with social insurance agencies and the document management system of the Department of Health. Hanoi aims for 100% of hospitals in the area to complete the implementation of electronic medical records before September 30, 2025.
Bach Mai Hospital - the first special-class general hospital in the country - has applied electronic medical records, bringing many conveniences to both patients and the medical team. With just an ID code, patients can quickly access information, shorten waiting time, reduce procedures and avoid losing documents. The entire medical examination and treatment process, from testing, diagnosis to payment, is digitized and transparent. Family members can follow the regimen and prescription on their phone. For doctors, electronic medical records support patient monitoring at all times, quick consultations, timely adjustments to the chart, while reducing the burden of recording and managing paper records.
Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Xuan Co - Director of Bach Mai Hospital - said that from November 15, 2024, Bach Mai will become the first special-class hospital under the Ministry of Health to successfully deploy electronic medical records, "comprehensive" medical examination and treatment without documents.
According to Mr. Co, electronic medical records bring 4 major benefits: Improving the quality of medical examination and treatment, optimizing processes and saving costs, improving patient experience and promoting the development of the health sector.
Just counting the digitization of X-rays, CT, MRI, test instructions, results return papers and treatment records, each year Bach Mai Hospital saves nearly 80 billion VND, this amount is reinvested in technology and digital transformation.
Electronic medical records also help doctors quickly access medical history information, reduce errors, increase continuity in treatment, and support the personalization of the regimen.Patients can book appointments online, receive quick results, and access their data at any time.
Mr. Co emphasized that Bach Mai Hospital has currently deployed an AI system to support the diagnosis of lung cancer, achieving positive results.
Resolutely implement to ensure the correct roadmap
Mr. Do Truong Duy - Director of the National Center for Medical Information (Ministry of Health) said that it will not be until August 2025 that 301 hospitals will announce the implementation of electronic medical records. This figure is still modest compared to the target, due to many facilities facing difficulties in funding, technology infrastructure, human resources and inter-sectoral coordination. According to Directive No. 07/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health is assigned to direct all hospitals to complete the implementation of electronic medical records before September 30, 2025.
"This cannot be delayed any longer" - Mr. Duy emphasized.
Currently, medical facilities are still concerned about funding, human resources, management skills, insurance, technical regulations, digital signatures, infrastructure and information security in the implementation of electronic medical records.
The National Center for Health Information acknowledged local opinions and proposed that the Ministry of Health build shared electronic medical record software. This solution will help speed up implementation, reduce costs for hospitals, and meet professional requirements. This is considered the key to overcoming the situation where hospitals have to find their own software, causing waste and lacking synchronization of national data.
Dr. Ha Anh Duc - Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management - said: "If we do not be determined and synchronous from now until September 30, 2025, it will be difficult for us to achieve the goal of digital healthcare according to the roadmap assigned by the Government".
