Workshop introducing the information system in the field of maternal and child health/reproductive health.

: On the morning of December 12, 2024, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Health organized a workshop introducing the information system in the field of maternal and child health/reproductive health and handed over the server system. Attending the workshop were Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health; Mr. Sasaki Shohei, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam; Ms. Silvia Danailov, Chief Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam; and delegates representing units under and affiliated with the Ministry of Health, international and domestic organizations, and the Department of Health and several units under the Department from 14 provinces/cities.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan delivered the opening speech at the workshop.

In his speech at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan affirmed that the fourth industrial revolution and digitalization trends have been increasingly impacting all sectors from economy, culture, society to politics, national defense, security, and environment, bringing undeniable benefits in all fields, including the health sector. Therefore, digital transformation is an inevitable trend and a mandatory requirement that helps countries enhance economic development, improve quality of life, promote social progress, and ensure each nation's prosperity. The health sector is no exception to this general trend, and the process of digital health transformation is both an inevitable requirement and a driving force for development in the new era. In recent times, under the direction of the Vietnamese Government, the Ministry of Health has issued many directives and guidelines to comprehensively, quickly, and effectively promote digital transformation in the health sector, aiming to build an e-Government within Vietnam's health sector.

On behalf of the leadership of the Ministry of Health, the Deputy Minister expressed sincere gratitude to the Japanese Embassy for supporting the Ministry of Health in building the Information System in the Field of Maternal and Child Health/Reproductive Health through UNICEF. This system is a technological solution that connects from the Hospital Information Systems (HIS) to the Health Statistics Software and the electronic version of the Mother and Child Health Book. It helps grassroots healthcare workers manage individual health, while also reducing the time needed for report compilation. Reports are more fully, accurately, and systematically compiled, aiding provincial and central levels in management, planning, and policy making to address health issues quickly and timely. This is an essential, well-directed activity that is scientifically and practically meaningful in the field of maternal and child health/reproductive health.

Ông Sasaki Shohei - Bí thư thứ nhất Đại sứ quán Nhật Bản tại Việt Nam phát biểu tại hội thảo

Ms. Silvia Danailov, Chief Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam, delivered a speech at the workshop.

The Ministry of Health commended the affiliated units, Departments of Health, and healthcare facilities in Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Son La, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Nong, and IT support agencies for their efforts in designing and testing the system. From January 1, 2025, the Ministry will collaborate with these provinces to officially operate the maternal and child health/reproductive health information system. The Deputy Minister of Health urged the Leaders of the Departments of Health to closely direct and facilitate the affiliated units' cooperation across all levels, from grassroots to central, to effectively implement the system. The results from the pilot phase will serve as the basis for the Ministry of Health to expand the application to ready provinces, aiming for nationwide implementation. This will contribute to promoting digital transformation, enhancing statistical efficiency in the health sector in general, and improving data management in maternal and child health/reproductive health specifically, making it increasingly modern and effective.

At the workshop, the delegates were also introduced to the maternal and child health/reproductive health information system, heard reports on the steps taken to build the system, and listened to presentations from the provinces of Lao Cai, Dien Bien, and Gia Lai about their experiences in the system-building process. Additionally, the delegates shared experiences in applying information technology in medical examination and treatment from the Departments of Health of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Ông Đỗ Trường Duy – Giám đốc Trung tâm thông tin y tế quốc gia phát biểu tại hội thảo.

Under the witness of Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan, the Japanese Embassy and UNICEF handed over the server system installed with the maternal and child health/reproductive health information system to the National Health Information Center, Ministry of Health.

Particularly at the workshop, the Japanese Embassy and UNICEF handed over the server system installed with the maternal and child health/reproductive health information system to the National Health Information Center, Ministry of Health.