In the healthcare sector, the Action Programme implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress emphasises the task of “building a national healthcare database and electronic health records for citizens”, gradually establishing a modern, interconnected digital healthcare system centred on serving the people.
“Paperless hospital” model
Digital transformation is changing the way people access healthcare every day. Nguyen Thi Mai (63 years old), from Ninh Binh, who has been receiving treatment for hypertension and cardiovascular disease at Ha Noi Medical University Hospital for many years, said that she previously had to carry a large folder containing prescriptions, imaging films, and test results whenever she visited the hospital.
“Once I forgot my test results at home and had to repeat everything from the beginning, which was both time-consuming and costly. Now, doctors can access my entire medical history simply by scanning my citizen identification card,” said Mai.
At many healthcare facilities today, patients no longer need to carry X-ray films from one department to another or worry about losing test results. Many procedures are now conducted entirely within a digital environment.
At Bach Mai Hospital, patients can register for appointments online, pay hospital fees cashlessly, and access test results through their mobile phones. The Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) allows doctors to view medical images directly on the system instead of printing films as in the past.
MSc, Resident Doctor Giap Thi Minh Nguyet, a cardiology specialist, noted that waiting for CT or MRI films to be printed previously consumed a considerable amount of time.
“Now the images are transmitted directly to the system, enabling doctors from different departments to hold consultations immediately. This both reduces waiting times and lowers costs for patients,” she said.
Digital transformation not only improves convenience for patients but also changes hospital operations. A complex case can now be discussed quickly among multiple specialities without the need to transfer paper records as before.
For many years, Ha Noi Medical University Hospital has been regarded as one of the pioneers in healthcare digital transformation. The hospital has developed an integrated management system covering online appointment registration, electronic medical records, digital image storage, and telemedicine services. Citizens can book appointments in advance via an application or hotline, significantly reducing waiting times.
MSc, Resident Doctor Vu Thi Phuong Thao, Deputy Head of the Endocrinology Department, explained that retrieving old patient records used to take considerable time, especially for chronic diseases requiring long-term monitoring.
“Doctors can now instantly review a patient’s consultation history, medications, and previous test results on a computer. This helps minimise errors and ensures more continuous treatment monitoring,” Dr Thao said.
The hospital has now fully implemented integrated HIS-LIS-PACS systems, electronic medical records, and electronic health booklets. In many inpatient departments, the once-familiar sight of carts loaded with thick paper files has nearly disappeared. Using a tablet or computer at the bedside, doctors can update treatment progress, vital signs, and prescriptions in real time.
Under the Ministry of Health’s roadmap, hospitals nationwide are required to complete the implementation of electronic medical records by September 30, 2025, while other healthcare facilities must do so by the end of 2026. This means the “paperless hospital” model is gradually becoming the dominant trend across the healthcare system.
Digital transformation is no longer confined to major hospitals. At Duc Giang General Hospital in Ha Noi, digitalisation has significantly reduced the time required for medical consultations and treatment. The average consultation time is now approximately 1.5 hours. Citizens can use electronic health insurance cards via the VssID application, authenticate their identity through VNeID, or use facial recognition during registration procedures.
Nguyen Van Ai (72 years old), from Bo De Ward, Ha Noi, who receives regular treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, said that he previously had to arrive very early to queue for registration. “Now I can book an appointment on my phone beforehand and simply scan my citizen identification card when I arrive. It’s much less tiring for elderly people like us,” he said.
Beyond patient reception, many treatment-related activities at Duc Giang Hospital have also been digitised. Nearly 90% of X-ray images are no longer printed on film, while most inpatients can pay hospital fees online directly from their hospital beds.
Nurse Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa shared: “In the past, many elderly patients had to carry bags full of paperwork between departments. Now all the data are stored on the system, and doctors only need to open a computer to access all the results.”
Establishing a national healthcare database
If the electronic health record is the most visible aspect of healthcare digital transformation for citizens, behind it lies the development of a national healthcare database, a critical foundation for the digital healthcare system.
According to the Ministry of Health, the database will integrate and connect numerous large datasets, including medical examination and treatment records, health insurance information, vaccination records, electronic prescriptions, infectious disease data, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment. The healthcare sector is currently connecting its systems with the National Population Database through chip-based citizen identification cards and the VNeID application.
At many hospitals, citizens can already use their citizen identification cards instead of paper health insurance cards when seeking medical treatment. By scanning their identification code, the system can retrieve insurance information and relevant medical history.
According to the Ministry of Health, most health insurance-covered healthcare facilities nationwide have implemented treatment procedures using chip-based citizen identification cards, while billions of medical records have been connected to the health insurance assessment system. Electronic prescriptions are also being widely adopted by hospitals and pharmacies. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, nationwide vaccination data were digitised on a large scale, creating an important foundation for public health management.
Nguyen Truong Nam, Deputy Director of the National Health Information Centre, noted that the healthcare sector previously relied largely on manual statistical reporting, resulting in significant delays in data availability. “When the national healthcare database is completed, management will shift decisively towards real-time, data-driven administration,” he said.
According to experts, once data are fully integrated, the healthcare sector will be able to build a “digital health map” of citizens based on regions and disease groups. This will facilitate the early detection of epidemic risks, monitoring of non-communicable diseases, and the development of healthcare policies that more accurately reflect real-world conditions.
Despite considerable progress, healthcare digital transformation still faces numerous challenges. At many district- and commune-level healthcare facilities, information technology infrastructure remains incomplete, while technology personnel are limited. Data interoperability among software systems is also not yet fully seamless.
In particular, the protection of personal data is becoming an increasingly urgent issue. Health records contain highly sensitive information and require robust security systems and strict access-control mechanisms.
From paper medical records to electronic health records, the transition from paper-based medical booklets to universal electronic health records represents a major transformation for the healthcare sector. As data become fully interconnected, citizens will enjoy greater convenience when accessing healthcare services, while management agencies will gain more effective tools for administration. This also provides a crucial foundation for building a modern, transparent healthcare system centred on serving the people.
At the same time, digital transformation requires changes in the working habits of healthcare professionals. Many older healthcare workers initially encountered difficulties when using software systems or applying electronic signatures. However, according to many doctors, once the systems operate smoothly, administrative burdens are significantly reduced, allowing healthcare staff to devote more time to patient care.
