Hanoi, 21 November 2024 – The Viet Nam Ministry of Health (MOH), through the Viet Nam Administration of Medical Services (VAMS), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Korean Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), officially launched the project “Telehealth to improve access to healthcare services for disadvantaged groups in Viet Nam.” This project aims to improve the health of disadvantaged populations by boosting digital transformation in health and enhancing the accessibility and quality of grassroots health services.

Viet Nam has made important progress in improving healthcare access and quality. However, barriers persist for communities in remote areas, ethnic minorities, and those facing climate change impacts. This project seeks to address these gaps through telehealth, focusing on ten provinces, including Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Ben Tre, and Ca Mau. By leveraging the “Doctor for Everyone” system, which has already connected over 1.3 million users to telemedicine services and trained more than 3,000 healthcare workers, the project aims to enhance IT infrastructure, train healthcare providers, and integrate digital systems into the VTelehealth platform.

Dr. Ha Anh Tuan, Director of the Viet Nam Administration for Medical Services, expressed the Ministry’s commitment to improving healthcare equity. He said "Since 2020, to improve the capacity of primary health care and improve access of people and ethnic minorities in mountainous and remote areas to high-quality health services, with the goal of "Leaving no one behind," UNDP has worked closely with the Ministry of Health to develop and implement a remote medical examination and treatment consultation program at the primary health care level using the software "Doctor for everyone" in 8 provinces of Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Dak Lak, Ca Mau and achieved positive results. From the positive results of this cooperation program, the Ministry of Health has coordinated with KOFIH Korea and through UNDP to mobilize resources with total non-refundable aid of over 2.3 million USD to implement this project in 10 remote and disadvantaged provinces."

UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam, Ramla Khalidi emphasized that "Together with the Ministry of Health and KOFIH, our aim is to ensure that no one is left behind in accessing life-saving healthcare services, especially in remote and climate-vulnerable areas. This project demonstrates how digital technology can empower grassroots healthcare, contributing to better health outcomes for the most disadvantaged communities."

KOFIH Representative Kyungnam Ryu confirmed, "This project aims to improve access to healthcare for underserved populations in Viet Nam and build a sustainable cooperation model in the field of digital health, aligning with the government’s digital transformation program and the key agendas discussed during the 2021 Korea-Vietnam Summit. Activities such as providing IT equipment, upgrading digital systems, and training users are already underway, ensuring the project’s success and long-term sustainability"

The project represents an important collaboration between Viet Nam, UNDP, and KOFIH to advance healthcare equity. By focusing on practical solutions, such as providing IT infrastructure, training healthcare workers, and engaging communities, the project seeks to deliver tangible benefits to those most in need. While challenges remain, this initiative offers a valuable opportunity to expand healthcare services and improve health outcomes for vulnerable communities across Viet Nam.

For more information, please kindly contact:
Phan Huong Giang
UNDP Media and Communications Analyst, Climate Change and Environment
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org
Mobile: 0948466688