The health sector is gradually bringing "leading" technology to ambulances
Currently, when an ambulance is needed, people call the 115 Emergency Center for coordination. Ho Chi Minh City is operating a satellite emergency system and connecting with a number of units.
According to Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health), outpatient emergency is an urgent area, requiring rapid coordination from transportation to treatment. The outpatient emergency project approved by the Prime Minister on May 10, 2026 aims to build a unified national emergency network with many new points.
Emergency calls will be integrated on a unified prefix. Local switchboards are formed in 34 provinces and cities, coordinating between health and police to receive, classify and coordinate. Calls are identified, positioned, helping to coordinate more effectively.
The network has also been expanded, not only the 115 Emergency Center but also qualified medical examination and treatment facilities with vehicles, personnel and equipment also participate. The system manages the location and operating status of each vehicle to coordinate the nearest vehicle, shorten waiting times so that people can be rescued quickly and promptly.
The common platform will connect switchboards, ambulances and medical examination and treatment facilities, helping medical staff on the vehicle exchange information with the receiving location to prepare treatment plans in advance.
In particular, the health sector aims to build a stroke emergency network, because time is decisive for the patient's ability to live and recover. At the same time, extrahospital emergency capacity will be standardized, human resources will be trained and coordination between health, police, and transportation will be strengthened to shorten transportation time.
Expanding the network, digitizing extrahospital emergency care
According to Dr. Nguyen Duy Long, Director of Ho Chi Minh City 115 Emergency Center, after more than 10 years of establishment, the city's out-of-hospital emergency system is gradually expanding its network, increasing access to patients, especially in the context that Ho Chi Minh City after the merger has a population of more than 14 million people and an area of nearly 7,000 km2, the expansion of satellite stations aims to shorten the distance and time to reach patients, especially in areas far from the center.
To date, the network has about 75 115 satellite emergency stations, including the participation of 16 private hospitals and 3 hospitals under the armed forces. In the past 3 years, the 115 Emergency Center in Ho Chi Minh City has received an average of more than 350,000 calls per year, showing that the demand for out-of-hospital emergency care is increasing.
After Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau merged into Ho Chi Minh City, the 115 Emergency Center continues to expand its forces in new areas. The Center has mobilized 12 satellite stations and 60 ambulances in Binh Duong; 6 satellite stations and 27 ambulances in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, and is considering a plan to serve the Con Dao special zone.
Dr. Nguyen Duy Long said that the 115 Emergency Center will promote the application of technology, connecting people, switchboards, ambulances and hospitals. The system aims to digitize data so that management agencies can monitor, evaluate and continuously improve the quality of out-of-hospital emergency care.
We must aim for the right people, in the right place, at the right time and with the right intervention," Dr. Nguyen Duy Long emphasized.
