• Hoan My Medical Group organised a Healthcare Transformation Roundtable on June 14, bringing together domestic and global experts, alongside government representatives.
• Initiative aims to share best practices, foster innovation, and improve the quality of healthcare services in Vietnam as patient needs evolve.
• Roundtable discussed harnessing the power of digital technology in delivering patient-centric, high-quality care.

Ho Chi Minh City – June 19, 2024 – Hoan My Medical Group, Vietnam’s largest private healthcare network, organized a Healthcare Transformation Roundtable to share best practices, foster innovation, and improve the quality of healthcare services in Vietnam as patient needs evolve.

The event brought together over 50 domestic and international experts, including representatives from the Ministry of Health and provincial health, directors and representatives from public hospitals, alongside experts from Oxford University, ACHS International & Consulting, Strasys (UK), and other organizations.

Transforming Healthcare to Address Changing Needs

Vietnam’s health sector is facing an increasingly high need for treatment and care due to population growth, aging demographics, and improved living standards.

“Vietnam is facing challenges from the dual disease burden (infectious and non-communicable diseases), increasing the risk of mortality and imposing a burden on society,” said Dr. Duong Huy Luong, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Service Administration, Ministry of Health. “This underscores the need to swiftly transform and continuously enhance the quality and efficiency of the healthcare system from central to local levels to adapt to changing disease patterns.”

According to Dr. Duong, statistics suggest Vietnamese people spend around US$ 2 billion every year on medical treatment abroad, a figure that could rise to US$ 3-4 billion in coming years.

If Vietnam is to become a regional healthcare hub, comprehensive solutions need to focus on various aspects. These include training high-quality healthcare professionals, investing in robust infrastructure, developing specialised medical services, advancing digital transformation, and simplifying administrative procedures related to healthcare operations.

To meet the needs of patients, especially in light of an aging and growing population, Dr. Dilshaad Ali Bin Abas Ali, Group CEO of Hoan My Medical Group added that the healthcare sector must shift from a hospital-centric model to a patient-centric one.

With this new model of care, the healthcare sector focuses not only on patients’ experiences in hospitals but also on establishing a system capable of providing healthcare services directly at home through digital applications. Successfully implementing this model can help to reduce costs for patients.

“For the patient-centric model, system design plays a crucial role as it determines the success or failure of efforts to enhance patient experience. The operation of the home and hospital care model requires intelligent digital integration, involving logistics, and understanding and effectively utilising data. Moreover, service quality must be measured and resulting actions clearly defined,” said Dr. Dilshaad Ali Bin Abas Ali.

Increasing Affordability and Access to Quality Healthcare Services

Delegates also discussed the accessibility of healthcare services with an equitable delivery model. Alongside the rapid growth of the middle class with higher disposal income for healthcare, a large segment of Vietnamese people still seeks better-quality private healthcare services at affordable costs. The healthcare sector’s transformation needs to meet the demands of both high-income individuals, potentially redirecting the US$ 2 billion spent abroad every year for medical treatment back to Vietnam, and the general public, particularly those on below-average incomes.

“The Hoan My ecosystem is focusing on building and developing healthcare facilities that cater to people’s diverse needs and financial capabilities,” said Dr. Dilshaad Ali Bin Abas Ali. “Hoan My Medical Group is expanding access to healthcare through the Thuan My network of hospitals and clinics, offering quality medical services at affordable costs. Our vision is that, by 2030, we will have transitioned from leading the medical sector to shaping healthcare culture, with a goal of advancing the health and well-being of all Vietnamese people.”

International experts attending the Roundtable brought insights and solutions from advanced healthcare systems such as the United Kingdom and Australia. Representatives from Strasys, a leading healthcare analytics and innovations agency, including Dr. Nadeem Moghal, Chief Innovation Officer, and Mr. Mark Jennings, Chief Solutions & Services Officer, discussed integrated healthcare systems and practical lessons in transitioning from traditional care models to effective and sustainable healthcare services on a large scale.

Mr. Phan Thanh Son, FPT Corporation’s EVP and Chief Business Development Officer, and Dr. Tran Tung, FPT Senior Digital Health Expert described the application of information technology and electronic health records in medical practice. This aids in quick information access, reduces storage of documents in hospitals, and supports doctors in efficiently enhancing medical treatment and patient care.

Addressing continuous improvement in healthcare quality and patient experience, Ms. Louise Cuskelly, Executive Director at the ACHS International & Consulting, shared insights on high-quality care elements, challenges, and practical experiences to help Vietnamese healthcare facilities raise care standards to international levels.

Additionally, with digitalisation, processes that optimise data flow between medical devices and computer models are essential. James Anibal, a Researcher at Oxford University specialising in healthcare technology and wearable devices, discussed healthcare models supported by digital technologies. Despite challenges, digital healthcare models have demonstrated potential advantages in optimising costs, time, and patient accessibility. In the future, artificial intelligence (AI) applications may help doctors worldwide reduce errors in diagnosis and treatment processes, ultimately improving the quality of care.

Vietnam’s healthcare sector aims to position the country as a destination for health and wellness tourism within the next 20 years, contributing to Vietnam’s economic growth, while building a “healthcare industry” for the future. One of the development goals for Ho Chi Minh City by 2030, with a vision towards 2045, is to build a modern healthcare system applying technological advancements and developing sectors to achieve global technology standards to become a healthcare hub in ASEAN.

About Hoan My

Hoan My Medical Group is Vietnam’s largest private healthcare network with 14 hospitals and seven clinics providing comprehensive services across its Hanh Phuc, Hoan My, and Thuan My brands. With a workforce of more than 5,000 dedicated professionals, it serves more than five million patient visits a year. Hoan My Medical Group is committed to delivering care with heart to patients across Vietnam, shaping the culture of the medical industry by increasing access to healthcare, setting new standards of clinical excellence, and pioneering innovative treatments and services.