Across Ho Chi Minh City's healthcare system, 153 out of 164 hospitals have implemented electronic health records (EHRs). Notably, 100% of public hospitals in the southern city have adopted EHRs, significantly improving the efficiency of medical examinations and treatment, reducing administrative procedures, and laying the groundwork for a smart healthcare ecosystem.

In terms of application scope, the rate of hospitals implementing facility-wide EHRs is high, with 64% of public hospitals and 65% of private hospitals having completed implementation across their entire operations.

Regarding investment methods, Mr. Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the HCMC Department of Health, stated that most hospitals have opted for IT service leasing solutions to optimize costs.The HCMC Department of Health plans to expand EHRs to all medical examination and treatment facilities, complete a centralized and secure health data warehouse, ensure interoperability, and apply artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics for disease forecasting, scientific research, and healthcare management. This initiative aims to build a smart healthcare ecosystem, serving a modern and livable city. 

At a recent conference announcing the results of EHR implementation and data warehouse standardization for the city's healthcare sector, Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee, emphasized that EHRs help shorten examination and treatment times, reduce costs and administrative procedures, increase management transparency, and create a comprehensive picture of public health. This supports policy planning and forecasting healthcare trends, aiming to establish HCMC as a specialized medical hub in the region and Asia.