Microsoft eyes health

How do you evaluate the opportunity for IT application in Vietnam’s healthcare sector?

Common to many developing economies, there is a perceived lack of industry knowledge and training. However, we believe that these issues can be overcome through innovative technology and associated learning programmes and the Vietnamese government recognises this.

In fact, the government has moved to increase healthcare spending and aims to modernise the healthcare infrastructure by 2020 by investing in all segments of healthcare – healthcare IT, medical imaging and devices, pharmaceutical and biotechnology.

With the increased focus on public-private partnerships as well, there is a tremendous potential for healthcare IT solution providers to play a bigger role in the delivery of better healthcare to citizens in Vietnam.

Do you mean that there is great potential for Microsoft to provide technologies and solutions in this market?

There is definitely great potential for technology to play a key role in the development of Vietnam’s healthcare sector. Technologies like cloud computing can give healthcare organisations the opportunity to improve the quality and access of care while reducing costs. In simple terms, it helps health organisations advance IT infrastructure to world class standards without having to invest in major upgrades every few years.

Furthermore, the use of Microsoft Lync for telemedicine is helping to reduce costs and enable care in remote areas. The practice of telemedicine is now more affordable than ever – reducing time-consuming and costly travel for both the patient and the practitioner while providing information 24/7. This is especially useful in underserved or rural populations or with ageing and less mobile patients who find visiting a surgery difficult.

What technologies or solutions has Microsoft offered Vietnam’s  healthcare service providers? What are their benefits?

There are a few key solution areas that Microsoft is very focused on. At the centre of Microsoft’s offering will be the robust, touchscreen Windows 8, which offers unbeatable security, and for tablets, such as Microsoft’s Surface, all the functionality of a laptop without sacrificing convenience and mobility.

Other product is Office 365 with its mix of collaboration and communication tools, such as Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync, provides an affordable solution enabling more efficient work practices and a better connection with patients, on their terms. Finally, the Microsoft Business Intelligence platform allows designated health professionals to analyse multiple sources of data at once and track large amounts of information to aid timely and accurate decision-making.

What are the most significant differences between Microsoft’s solutions and others’?

At Microsoft, our goal is to make a real impact in health around the world through software innovation. Fulfilling this vision relies on innovative technology—including both ‘off-the-shelf’ Microsoft products and bespoke enterprise-class solutions developed in close collaboration with our partners and customers.

For instance, our HealthVault solution is built upon an ecosystem of innovative partners in the form of devices and apps. Business intelligence tools help to liberate data and drive truly scalable solutions that can benefit the full continuum of care. This benefits all players in the sector from the individual patient to health professionals and health institutions.