ICT in health sector in Vietnam: issues and support needs MBDS Vietnam Mukdakhan, 2 April 2009

Health system and information flow Central Ministry of Health Provincial Health Department District Health Bureau District Center for Preventive Medicine District Hospital District Hospital Village Health Workers Commune Health Station Commune Health Station Hospitals Research institutes and specialized institutes Medical Universities and Colleges Provincial Hospitals Centers for preventive medicine, health education, dissemination, prevention and control of HIV/AIDS... Medical secondary schools and colleges Province District Commune ~700 disitricts 63 provinces >100,000 VHW >10,000 communes

Good points  Commitment of government and MoH in investing for ICT in health sector including preventive medicine  IT Infrastructure: almost all health facilities at any level-commune, district, provincial or central have mobile or fixed phones  Widespread health care network at grassroots level: play as data collectors

Issues (1) ICT infrastrucuture:  Lack of hardware at grassroots level  Mobile network: widespread in plain areas, but limited access in some far and remote areas  Internet access: very good in big cities, but poor access at district and commune level  No agreed software for data reporting (HIS and disease surveillance)

Issues (2) Health information system:  most data at the local level are stored in books or printed reports  little data developed into databases on the computer  Constraining exploration and use of information  Overlapping of reporting channels at grassroots level  Feedback mechanism from higher to lower level Human resources:  Statistical and IT staff are lacking and lack stability  Qualifications are limited, especially at the grassroots level.

ICT-related activities by MBDS Vietnam  Information exchange via s in 5 border site Quang Tri, Huong Hoa-Savannakhet (Lao) An Giang, Tinh Bien-Takeo (Cambodia) Ha Tinh, Huong Son-Boulikhamsay (Lao) Lang Son, Cao Loc district-Quangxi (China) Lai Chau, Phong Tho (not yet)-Yunan (China)  GIS application Training of health staff for Quang tri and Huong Hoa (2006) Use of ArcView in mapping and visualisation of diseases in Quang Tri and Huong Hoa ( ) Expansion of GIS application in 4 new border site

Priorities for ICT support  Data reporting and totalling at grosslevels: Which way of reporting is suitable, especially in remote area: internet, SMS??? Aggregatation of data at district level: which tools/software?  Basic investment for infrastrucuture: Computer Mobile phone  Human resource development: Basic training on data collection and analysis Specific trainings: GIS, disease surveillance and management  The support can start at 5 borders sites, evaluate results and expand to other provinces if appropriate

Many thanks for your attention