The implementation of the telehealth software “Doctor for Everyone” has changed access to healthcare by empowering patients to choose and make appointments with healthcare professionals, at the most appropriate time. This approach also contributes to the capacity building of health workers. In addition, the telehealth initiative indicates the role of digital transformation in promoting equality, in access to healthcare services in Vietnam.
The information was shared at a workshop to review the implementation results of the grassroots telehealth programme, using the software “Doctor for everyone”, which was held by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Hanoi, on July 20.
“Our long-term goal is to support the development of grassroots telehealth system nationwide, in which, grassroots medical workers are assisted with existing instructions and patients receive high-quality healthcare on time,” said UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Ramla Al Khalidi.
She noted that UNDP is working with the Health Ministry, provinces and other partners in Vietnam, to mobilise more resources to expand the telehealth initiative to more localities, while continuing to build a legal framework and policy for the telehealth programme.
The “Doctor for Everyone” programme was launched in 2020 and had been piloted in the provinces of Ha Giang, Bac Kan and Lang Son in 2021 and 2022. Thanks to positive results in such provinces, the programme has been implemented in five provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Dak Lak and Ca Mau.
The “Doctor for Everyone” software was installed in 1,403 health facilities at province, district and commune levels in five aforementioned provinces and connected with the data centre of the Health Ministry.
About 4,900 medical workers were trained to participate in the programme while 755,000 accounts were created for people and 28,000 appointments were made, as of June 2023.
