The Ministry of Health has issued a new directive establishing a definitive timeline for the digital transformation of medical records. Under this mandate, all healthcare facilities nationwide—both public and private—must finalize the implementation of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) no later than December 31, 2026.
Key milestones and regulatory requirements:
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Transition Deadline: Starting January 1, 2027, hospitals are required to officially cease the use of traditional paper-based records.
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Current Progress: To date, over 75% of hospitals in Vietnam have announced the adoption of EMR systems. However, the quality of implementation remains inconsistent, with many facilities still relying on physical paper backups.
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Managerial Accountability: Heads of healthcare institutions are directly responsible for mobilizing financial resources, personnel, and technological infrastructure to meet the mandated schedule.
This policy is designed to optimize clinical workflows, ensuring that patient health data is interconnected and transparent, thereby improving the overall management and operational efficiency of the national healthcare system.