Hanoi (VNA) – A seminardiscussing the opportunities, challenges and current trends of the healthcaresystem in ASEAN took place in Hanoi on September 13 as part of the WorldEconomic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN) 2018.

David Sin, Founder and Deputy Chairman ofFullerton Healthcare Corporation Limited (Singapore), said that in the next 10years, total spending on healthcare in the Asia-Pacific will account for 45percent of the global figure, with the growth rate of health costs standing at8 percent.

Over the period, the region is estimated to have460 million people over 65 years old, 65 million people with obesity problems,and 275 million people over 18 years old with complications related to weight.

Asia is also said to have the fastest ageingrate compared to other global regions.

It is possible for ASEAN to make some breakthroughsin healthcare system with the development of science and technology incollaboration with economics, he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Strategy Advisor of Policyand Philanthropic Partnerships for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Asia, HariMenon, said that ASEAN needs to devise financial plans in order to support poorcitizens’ access to healthcare. As countries must work together to improve thehealthcare system, the public and private sectors should also do the same tofind significant partners. 

President of Novartis Mexico Alexis Serlin said althoughthe region is facing many difficulties, new discoveries brought about bytechnology and pharmaceutical products have offered opportunities to the healthcaresystem. Notably, the establishment of an electronichealth database will contribute to the interventions, raising the efficiency oftreatment.

Chief Executive Officer for Philips ASEAN PacificCaroline Clarke said that home healthcare has surged in ASEAN and around theworld. Meanwhile, new technology needs to be applied in the healthcare system,such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said thatVietnam and other ASEAN nations have faced the burdens of infectious andnewly-discovered diseases, as well as non-communicable ones.

While quality in hospitals has been enhanced,Vietnam’s early screening system is yet to be completed and needs improvementsin the time to come.

The country’s health sector is working to bringfundamental healthcare programmes to more than 13,000 remote and mountainousvillages nationwide, she noted.

The sector is calling for private firms toinvest in Vietnam’s healthcare system, as well as seeking sources from Statebudget, bond capital mobilisation, and official development assistance.

Education to raise public awareness about healthknowledge will improve the livelihoods and productivity of Vietnamese workers,thus making greater contributions to the national economy at all levels, Tiensaid.

She also revealed that Vietnam’s health sectorwill set up a programme consisting of three systems – namely smart hospitals,smart patient access, and smart health management, adding the Ministry of Healthwill cooperate with relevant agencies to accelerate the programme in the timeahead.-VNA