Information Technology is now widely used in most businesses and has made a significant contribution to the development of our economy, culture and society. It has been applied in many specialized applications. In Medicine, IT has proved its effectiveness in heath care, disease prevention, medical research and health management.
Dr. Luong Chi Thanh, Deputy-Director of IT at the Ministry of Health
On November 8th, DTU hosted an international conference entitled: “IT Applications in Medical Sciences”. Many distinguished scientists, physicians and lecturers from universities and health institutions from all over the world attended.
"In Vietnam, we first have to develop strong research teams to build a strong foundation for future research at our universities”, said Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc, Director of the Education Committee at Hanoi National University.
Recently, local health centers in Vietnam have invested in advanced equipment, such as medical imaging machines, dialysis machines, MRI scanners and so on. IT is now used in human resources, finance, documentation, patient records, writing prescriptions, providing information to prevent epidemics and so on.
Mr. Pham Kim Son, Director of Danang Department of Information Communications
Professor Pham Vinh Quang of the Vietnam Military Medical University, an experienced surgeon, has accumulated a large database with photographs which will prove invaluable in medical education. However, a project to allow lecturers and students using special database software applications has not yet been implemented because of the slow investment in IT in Medical Sciences in Vietnam. Moreover, most IT specialists are not familiar with pathology and physicians find it difficult to design special database software. When these problems were discussed at the conference, the expert participants expressed their strong desire to get things changed.
Applications were presented to highlight the need for improvement in the healthcare sector. These included programs such as “InfCare HIV”, that has been used in Sweden since 2008 by Professor Mattais Larsson of Karolinska Institute, “Using 3D Simulation Technology in Dentistry Education”, by Associate Professor Vo Truong Nhu Ngoc and Le Quynh Anh of the Hanoi University of Medical Sciences and “Computer-Aided Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer by Mammography”, by Professor Vikrank Bhateja of the Shri Ramswaroop Memorial Group of Professional Colleges (SRMGPC) in India.
Scientists, physicians and lecturers at the seminar
Dr. Le Nguyen Bao, DTU Vice-Provost, said: “In Vietnam, at most medical facilities, researchers clearly agree on the importance of Information Technology in medicine. However, the practical development in Vietnam is still slow. To improve this in the near future, a forum is needed to bring highly-experienced IT specialists, doctors and researchers together to exchange information and experiences. Duy Tan University has a strong IT expertise and has developed 3D software for a variety of educational applications, such as virtual reality for training, teaching methods, history, applications for film and art, and, in particular, the development of demonstration models for Medicine and Pharmacy. In 2015, DTU officially first offered the General Practitioner major in addition to the existing Academic Pharmacy and Nursing program, after signing agreements with two major American universities, the University of Illinois and the University of Pittsburgh and several big hospitals in central Vietnam. With contributions and support from leading IT and medical experts, DTU will soon graduate generations of skilled doctors, with a specialized knowledge of medicine linked with a solid understanding of IT, to create healthcare software that will be used to accelerate medical applications here in Vietnam.”
Mr. Pham Kim Son, Director of the Danang Department of Information Communications, said: “Danang very much appreciates the DTU initiative in organizing the international conference 'IT Applications in Medical Sciences'. This important meeting allows researchers and doctors to understand more about the IT requirements of the medical community in Vietnam. We can exchange ideas and plan for the future. Danang has always supported and encouraged educators and businesses to develop comprehensive IT applications in all sectors. The conference is a significant one for DTU and the city of Danang. We are sure that the forum will be broadened and ultimately make a significant contribution to the improvement of healthcare and the quality of living for us all in the near future.”
(Media Center)