Many medical centers in Nghe An face difficulties in implementing electronic medical records.
At this time, the implementation of electronic medical records at medical centers with beds in Nghe An is facing many difficulties.
Simultaneous deployment
In 2025, under the direction of the Department of HealthNghe An, Nghia Dan District Medical Center has deployed the construction of electronic medical records. Doctor Nguyen Huu Hong - Director of Nghia Dan District Medical Center said: The policy of deploying electronic medical records has received the consensus and high approval of the entire leadership and employees. In early 2025, the center issued an implementation plan. By January 18, 2025, the center had coordinated with the software provider to install related software. Currently, the progress has been 70% completed. It is expected that by the end of April 2025, the construction of electronic medical records will be completed.
In 2025, not only Nghia Dan District Medical Center, but all medical examination and treatment units in the province have been and will promote the application of information technology, digital transformation, including the construction of electronic medical records. Most recently, on the afternoon of April 4, 2025, the professional council for evaluating electronic medical records of the health sector conducted an assessment and evaluation of the conditions for implementing electronic medical records at Nam Dan District Medical Center.
Doctor Nguyen Canh Thang - Director of Nam Dan District Medical Center said: The Center started implementing electronic medical records from October 2024, and has so far digitized 100% of inpatient medical records; digitally signed records, fingerprint biometrics of patients and their relatives using the information technology software system. After being assessed with satisfactory results, in May 2025, Nam Dan District Medical Center will officially put electronic medical records into use.
Electronic medical records are a software system that allows the digitization of all information about medical records, prescriptions, and clinical results of patients accurately and systematically. This system helps doctors and medical staff to monitor and manage patients' health anytime, anywhere; can consult directly or remotely, helping to improve treatment efficiency.
With electronic medical records, patient registration procedures, all operations can be used, guided through machines, patients can easily look up, track results, and update their medical status via phone App.
The medical examination and treatment facilities inNghe AnThe simultaneous deployment of electronic medical records stems from the Prime Minister's issuance of Directive No. 07/CT-TTg. In which, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Health to direct and urge 100% of hospitals nationwide to deploy electronic medical records; connect data between district and provincial hospitals of localities with hospitals under the Ministry of Health, take advantage of the interconnected data to reduce testing for people, to be completed in September 2025.
It is known that up to now, in Nghe An, 12/53 medical examination and treatment units have proactively and successfully implemented electronic medical records. At this time, with the instructions from the Government, the Ministry of Health, the Provincial People's Committee and the Nghe An Department of Health, the successful implementation of electronic medical records has become a mandatory requirement, as well as a political determination of each medical examination and treatment unit...
Difficulty in investment resources
Despite such determination, reality shows that the implementation of electronic medical records at medical examination and treatment facilities implementing group 3 autonomy is facing many difficulties and obstacles, especially at district health centers with hospital beds.
Doctor Nguyen Huu Hong - Director of Nghia Dan District Medical Center said: The information technology infrastructure of the unit has been degraded for a long time; it is both lacking and not synchronized. To implement electronic medical records, the unit must purchase a lot of new equipment and software. Although the software company has lent the server, used the firewall data security control system and some other storage machines, it still needs to spend an additional 3 billion VND. This is a very large amount of money for a small unit in a mountainous area.
We hope that all levels and sectors will have more investment support. The development of electronic medical records is currently taken from the unit's development investment fund, which will affect other activities. In addition, we suggest that the Department of Health soon have a general direction for units in the sector to use a common software system (in Nghe An, there are currently 2 companies providing electronic medical record software) to create consistency and data synchronization. The health sector should soon agree with the Social Insurance to completely eliminate paper medical records to avoid waste.
Doctor Nguyen Huu Hong - Director of Nghia Dan District Medical Center
Currently, the center is surveying and researching to select a company to provide electronic medical record software. Once the survey is completed, we will invest, deploy, and try to complete before August 30, 2025. The biggest difficulty now is the need to purchase servers, the technology infrastructure is not guaranteed. Meanwhile, the center's investment source is facing many difficulties. The total investment cost is estimated to be up to 1 billion VND. In the absence of investment funds, the center is forced to sign a contract to rent servers, rent software from the company... and will pay gradually later.
Doctor Dang Tan Minh - Director of Quy Chau District Medical Center
The investment source for information technology infrastructure to create electronic medical records is relatively large. Minimum from 5-6 billion VND, maximum 7-8 billion VND. With this amount of money, the unit does not have the resources to invest. If the contract leases all software, servers, and equipment provided by the company, the unit must pay about 1 billion VND/year. To implement electronic medical records, we hope for support and investment from all levels and sectors. Next, we hope that the State will soon guide the expenditure items for information technology, the cost structure of medical services with information technology components... so that the unit has the funds to "feed" electronic medical records.
Doctor Nguyen Van Khanh - Director of Anh Son District Medical Center
Despite difficulties in investment resources as well as funding to "feed" electronic medical records, medical units in Nghe An are still determined to complete electronic medical records according to the set schedule. Doctor Pham Dinh Luyen - Director of Quy Hop District Medical Center expressed: There are many difficulties but the unit is still determined and trying to complete the assigned tasks. With few resources, we do little, and when we are lacking, we owe or hire, trying to manage gradually.
Discussing the difficulties that public medical examination and treatment units are facing in the process of implementing electronic medical records, the leader of Nghe An Department of Health said: The Department of Health is asking units to clearly state the difficulties and obstacles encountered and send estimates for implementing electronic medical records for synthesis. On that basis, the Department of Health will issue an official document requesting the Provincial People's Committee to consider and allocate funding to invest in building information technology infrastructure for electronic medical records...
At this time, the Ministry of Health is assigning the Planning Department to develop a new price structure for medical examination and treatment services, in which information technology is a component.
