The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will help Hanoi-based Bach Mai hospital and its two satellite hospitals promote radiology through telemedicine in a move to better serve local residents. This is part of the Minutes of Meeting on the JICA-funded project “Pilot Survey for Disseminating Small and Medium Enterprise Technologies for the Telemedicine Cooperation using Information and Communication (ICT)” signed between JICA and the Bach Mai Hospital on Aug 31. Under the pact, the Japanese side will install the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) at the above hospitals and train medical staffs on operation and maintenance of the system. Via PACS, the CT images, X-ray films and MRI will be easily shared and controlled between radiology department and other departments of Bach Mai Hospital and its satellite hospitals in real-time. The telemedicine technology is expected to ease severe hospital overloads and reduce the cost burden of patient because the patients can save moving expenses and time, said JICA Vietnam Chief Representative Mori Mutsuya. This is the first JICA-funded project for the application of Information Technology in the health sector. It is conducted under the new JICA’s scheme of “Pilot Survey for Dissemination SME’s Technologies.” Japan is one of the biggest donors for Vietnam’s healthcare projects. It has funded $60 million for upgrading Bach Mai Hospital, $24 million for HCM City-based Cho Ray Hospital and $27 million for the Hue Central Hospital. (Quan Doi Nhan Dan – People’s Army Aug 1)
