Health database is a new engine for the data-Al decade

Data has become a new type of economic resource in the digital economy.

- By Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Quy Tuong

Health data, with its nationwide coverage, continuity, high accuracy, and significant predictive value, is now one of the data groups with the highest socioeconomic value.In Vietnam, medical data accounts for a large proportion of national databases, including health records, medical case data, laboratory tests, medical images, epidemiological surveillance data, health insurance, traditional medicine, food safety, and prevention and rehabilitation. This is the resource updated daily from 100 million people and 1,650 healthcare facilities.

When standardised, interconnected, and open to controlled access, health data can directly contribute to the digital GDP through four main channels: increasing productivity in the healthcare sector, formation of a digital services market, promoting innovation and healthtech startups, and supporting health and economic policy planning based on forecasting models and cost-effectiveness analysis.

Experience from other countries shows that the health data economy can contribute 1–3 per cent to GDP, and Vietnam can achieve a similar level in the next decade if it has a synchronised legal framework and data infrastructure.