Information Technology applications have made significant contributions in the field of Medicine, in heath care, disease prevention, medical research and health management. Patients in developed countries receive advanced computerized diagnosis and treatment, but in Vietnam progress is slow.
On November 8th, DTU hosted an international conference on “IT Applications in Medical Sciences”. Distinguished scientists, physicians and lecturers from universities and health institutions worldwide participated.
Representatives of local government, doctors and researchers address the conference
The Government has resolved to invest in IT to meet the requirements of international integration. This will allow medical centers to acquire new medical equipment and management software. However, computerized treatment is still restricted because the advantages of remote consultation services, smart image analysis and so on have not been explored.
Professor Pham Vinh Quang, of the Vietnam Military Medical University, and an experienced surgeon, has accumulated a large database of photographs, which will prove invaluable in medical education. However, a project to allow lecturers and students to use special database software applications has yet to be implemented, because most IT specialists are not familiar with the field of pathology and physicians find it difficult to design the software themselves. When these problems were discussed at the conference, participants expressed a strong desire to change this.
Scientists and lecturers at the conference
Mr. Pham Kim Son, Director of the Danang Department of Information Communications, stated: “Danang very much appreciates the DTU initiative in organizing this conference. This meeting allows researchers and doctors to understand more about the Vietnamese IT requirements in the field of Medicine. We can exchange ideas and plan for the future. Ranking 7th nationwide in terms of readiness for IT development, Danang has always supported and encouraged educators and businesses to develop comprehensive IT applications in all sectors. This conference is significant for DTU and Danang. We are sure that it will become even more important and ultimately make a significant contribution to the quality of healthcare and our lives in the near future.”
DTU is a pioneer in the development of 3D software in a variety of educational applications, such as virtual reality for training programs, teaching methods, history, applications for film and art, and, in particular, the development of demonstration models for Medicine and Pharmacy. In 2015, DTU first offered a General Practitioner major, in addition to the existing Academic Pharmacy and Nursing programs, after signing agreements with two major American universities, the University of Illinois and the University of Pittsburgh and some large hospitals in central Vietnam.
Dr. Le Nguyen Bao, DTU Vice-Provost, said: “A forum is needed to bring IT specialists, doctors and researchers together to exchange information and experiences. DTU is strong in IT education. We are counting on the support of IT and medical experts in order to educate future generations of skilled doctors, who must have a specialized knowledge of medicine, linked with a solid understanding of IT, who can create healthcare software to accelerate medical applications in Vietnam.”
Some computer 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 the 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.
Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc, Director of the Education Committee at Hanoi National University, said:"In Vietnam, we first have to develop strong research teams to build a foundation for future university research.”
Pioneering this research has been one of DTU’s key objectives, in order to enhance IT medical applications for the improvement of the health of our community.
(Media Center)