Connecting the potential for technology development and innovation in healthcare

On October 1, the Ministry of Science and Technology coordinated with the Ministry of Health to organize the Healthcare Technology Forum with the theme of Biotechnology and digital transformation for the development of the healthcare sector.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc speaks at the forum. Photo: PV

The Healthcare Technology Forum is held within the framework of the Vietnam Technology and Innovation Connection Event 2024 on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital.

Speaking at the forum, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc said that technology development and innovation in healthcare involves the development and implementation of new processes, products, programs, policies or systems to improve health and equity in access to healthcare services. Healthcare innovation refers to the development and application of new ideas, technologies, processes and solutions to improve quality and promote the application of scientific advances in medicine.

According to the Deputy Minister of Health, innovation will address the challenges and increasing needs of healthcare activities, taking place in all stages from primary healthcare, disease prevention, medical examination and treatment, production of drugs, vaccines, biological products and medical equipment.

The representative of the Ministry of Health emphasized that biotechnology and digital transformation are considered important components of the fourth industrial revolution. Recognizing the role and importance of biotechnology and digital transformation in the 21st century, on September 27, 2019, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW on a number of policies and strategies to proactively participate in the fourth industrial revolution; on June 3, 2020, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 749/QD-TTg approving the national digital transformation program until 2025, with a vision to 2030.

On January 30, 2023, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW on the development and application of biotechnology to serve the country's sustainable development in the new situation.

Overview of the forum. Photo: PV

Within the framework of the forum, delegates focused on two main topics: "Biotechnology for the development of the healthcare sector" and "Digital transformation for the development of the healthcare sector".

Sharing at the forum, Prof. Dr. Tran Huy Thinh, Hanoi Medical University, said that biotechnology in medicine in Vietnam is applied in many fields, especially diagnosis and treatment orientation such as detecting disease-causing gene mutations, identifying gene carriers, prenatal screening and genetic counseling; determining gene status that determines drug response in the treatment of lung, blood, and colorectal cancers, etc.

However, according to Professor Tran Huy Thinh, the development of biotechnology in medicine in Vietnam today still faces many difficulties because there is no real biological industry, there is no close connection between research and application units with businesses; the path to bringing biotechnology products to clinical applications is very difficult...

On that basis, Prof. Dr. Tran Huy Thinh proposed research directions for applying biotechnology in Vietnam: Developing vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, drugs, biological products in disease prevention and treatment; applying gene technology, cells and cell products in disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment; applying biotechnology in the production of herbal medicines; developing in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDs); applying artificial intelligence (AI), big data in disease screening, diagnosis and treatment.

At the forum, speakers shared many other important contents such as: Cell therapy, stem cell application, medicinal gene source research, personalized 3D printing technology; digital transformation, open data in the healthcare industry, artificial intelligence application in healthcare, digital application in pharmaceutical business.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc, developing technology and innovation in healthcare requires coordination between medical experts, technologists, policy makers, and investors to bring about positive changes in the context of the current strong 4.0 revolution.

Through the forum, the health sector hopes to receive support from ministries, especially the Ministry of Science and Technology. We hope and expect that the forum will introduce and connect the potential for technology development and innovation in the health sector between organizations, units, technology developers, and investors to promote the development of the Vietnamese health sector in the future.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/ket-noi-tiem-nang-phat-trien-cong-nghe-va-doi-moi-sang-tao-trong-y-te-d226393.html