Long An Province in southern Vietnam is making bold strides in improving its healthcare system, focusing on modernizing infrastructure and enhancing the quality of medical personnel.

In tandem with these investments, the province's healthcare sector is spearheading a robust digital transformation, aiming to optimize services and streamline patient care.

Increasing beds, equipment, doctors for district-level medical centers

A new 125-bed inpatient facility, costing VND50 billion (US$2 million), is under construction at the medical center in Tan Hung, a border district in the Dong Thap Muoi area which is furthest from the province’s downtown area.

Since its establishment in 2005 and a significant upgrade in 2015, the center currently operates with 240 beds.

According to Dr. Nguyen Van Del, the center's director, the addition of the new facility will bring the total capacity to 345 beds, enhancing healthcare services for the border district.

Dr. Del noted that the medical center is now equipped with advanced medical devices, including CT scanners, echocardiogram machines, vascular ultrasound systems, gastrointestinal endoscopes, laparoscopic equipment, and automated analyzers for biochemistry and hematology.

All 12 medical stations across Tan Hung District have been upgraded with modern facilities that meet national healthcare standards, significantly improving the district’s capacity to deliver quality medical care.

With these modern medical devices, local residents receive better healthcare and save on travel costs to higher-level hospitals, according to Dr. Del.

To support such improvements, more medical staff have been assigned to the district’s healthcare units. Tan Hung now has 68 doctors, achieving a ratio of 14 doctors per 10,000 residents, which ensures more accessible and comprehensive care for the community.

They include two master's degree holders. Eighteen doctors are working in the 12 medical stations.

Huynh Minh Phuc, director of the Long An Department of Health, said that the province's public healthcare system comprises 27 units, including the Long An General Hospital, which has been upgraded to a grade-I facility.

The system also features 15 district-level medical centers and 188 commune-level medical stations, all equipped with modern facilities and enhanced staffing.

In 2024, the department is supporting 128 doctors in pursuing postgraduate education, further strengthening the province’s healthcare workforce, Phuc added.

Positive results of digital transformation

Phuc said that Long An’s healthcare sector has made significant progress in digital transformation.

Officials now have access to computers, enabling more efficient task management, while the province has consistently upgraded its IT infrastructure.

The Department of Health integrates its operations with the province’s digital database and platforms.

A total of 240 vaccination sites have declared compliance with vaccination standards and actively update data on the national immunization portal, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of vaccination management.

Phuc noted that Long An effectively uses software to manage hospitals, medical stations, staff, and the issuance of pharmaceutical practice certificates.

Since 2023, all public medical centers under the Department of Health have adopted non-cash payment methods, such as credit cards and QR codes.

Particularly, since March 2023, residents have been able to access healthcare services using chip-based ID cards, streamlining procedures and improving service efficiency.

Currently, 95.93 percent of Long An residents have digital health records. Since 2023, hospitals and medical centers in the province have shared essential documents like health check-up certificates for driver's licenses, birth notices, and death notices.

The Department of Health is also rolling out a plan to use biometric data and automated kiosks for medical check-ups and treatment at all public hospitals and medical centers, aiming to provide more efficiency and patient convenience.

The Department of Health has piloted its biometric-based medical check-up system at the Ben Luc District Medical Center to speed up services and reduce waiting times, according to Phuc.

Long An is set to purchase 89 hemodialysis machines and other medical equipment valued at VND75 billion ($3 million) for healthcare units across the province in 2024-25, bettering medical care for residents.

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