'Doctor for Everyone' telehealth system scaled up

The South Korean government, through the KOFIH, will provide $3.2 million in non-refundable official development assistance for this project, supporting the implementation of the “Doctor for Everyone” software in 10 provinces in different regions of Vietnam with a combined population of up to 10 million people.

This project aims to improve the health of disadvantaged populations constrained by supply issues by boosting digital transformation in health and enhancing access to health services to contribute to the quality improvement of grassroots health services. It will modernise software and digital solutions, offer servers and IT equipment, train personnel, and reinforce the legal foundation for telehealth.

Luong Ngoc Khue, vice chair of the National Medical Council and Director of the Vietnam Administration for Medical Services (VAMS) under the Ministry of Health (MoH) said, “We are delighted to sign a memorandum of collaboration for a new initiative to expand access to primary healthcare. We are confident that the initiative will be successfully and efficiently conducted so that individuals from disadvantaged groups can access high-quality medical care.”

The “Doctor for Everyone” software aims to complement the existing telehealth programme of the MoH, for which the VAMS serves as the national coordinating organisation.

“We hope that experience in IT and healthcare information will help establish the telehealth system and successfully implement its management for underprivileged areas in Vietnam. Through this project, the KOFIH will support improving access to healthcare services for the disadvantaged and strengthening the healthcare system in Vietnam,” said Kim Chang-yup, KOFIH president.

The software is perfectly aligned with Vietnam’s plan to modernise and develop the health system at all levels, particularly the ability of the healthcare system at the commune level for early diagnosis and treatment.

“We aim to support the development of a nationwide grassroots telehealth system in which grassroots health workers have medical guidance at their fingertips and where patients, especially those from disadvantaged groups, receive the highest quality care promptly," said Ramla Khalidi, UNDP resident representative in Vietnam. "The UNDP stands ready to deepen our strategic partnership with the VAMS, the MoH, and the KOFIH to support the achievement of Vietnam’s strategic targets for the new rural development program by 2025 and for the National Programme for Digital Transformation in health.”

According to Khalidi, this is a key part of the UNDP’s overall support of innovation in Vietnam’s health sector, alongside other activities supporting the development of a climate-smart healthcare system, including a new model for climate-resilient commune health stations.

Despite strong interest among medtech businesses and hospitals, the legal framework for telehealth performance in Vietnam remains incomplete, making the amendment to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment an ever-urgent need.