The second Healthcare Innovation Forum, initiated by Pharma Group, will be organised in Hanoi on October 18, 2023.

The “Healthcare Innovation Forum”, a platform that brings together local and international experts to discuss and share experiences on innovative solutions in building a sustainable healthcare system worldwide and to drive the adoption of innovative approaches and technologies to transform healthcare in Vietnam, will take place on October 18, 2023.

Diseases never stop developing, nor does innovation to deal with these obstacles. The global life sciences sector has emerged as one of the key drivers of the 21st-century economy, driven by remarkable breakthroughs in healthcare, alongside an increasing social demand to address healthcare challenges.

Aiming to inspire a transformative approach to level up Vietnam’s healthcare, the second Healthcare Innovation Forum, initiated by Pharma Group, will be organized on October 18, 2023, in Hanoi and virtually via Zoom. More detailed information and the opportunity to join the event are available at https://voi.org.vn/en/hif2023/.

In the momentum of the 2022 event’s success, this year’s forum will centre its discussions around three key factors aimed at expediting the realization of Vietnam's healthcare development vision. It includes: (i) Enhancing research and clinical trial capabilities; (ii) Fostering innovation in healthcare infrastructure construction, from the digitalization of the healthcare system, the adoption of advanced technological solutions like artificial intelligence (AI) and real-world data management to drive innovative practices and establish a resilient healthcare system, to the elevation of Vietnam's competitive position in the field of pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) within the region; (iii) Creating a policy environment that encourages groundbreaking advancements in the industry's growth.

The 2023 Forum is honoured to receive Dr. Mary Harney, Former Deputy Prime Minister/Tanaiste (1997 – 2006), Minister of Health and Children (2004 – 2011) – Republic of Ireland. In 2020, Ireland became the world's largest exporter of medicines, with 19 out of the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies establishing their presence in the country. Dr. Mary Harney’s term coincides with the decade (1997 – 2007) of Ireland’s booming economic growth and what has come to be known as the Celtic tiger area with an annual GDP growth rate of over 9.4% and the country’s transformation from one of the lowest starting points in Europe to one of the most powerful exporters of pharmaceutical products in the world with a value of 71 billion USD/year. Dr. Mary Harney’s sharing of practical experiences is sure to offer valuable and useful reference information for the development of policies and strategies in Vietnam.

A panel discussion at the first Healthcare Innovation Forum in 2022.

Vietnam's total health spending per capita has increased by an average of 11% annually over the past decade, according to the Ministry of Health. The average number of hospital visits per person in Vietnam has risen from 1.89 visits per year in 2010 to 2.95 visits per year in 2020. Vietnam has the second highest total expenditure on health care in terms of percentage of GDP in the Southeast Asian region, only after Cambodia.

The increasing demand for healthcare shows the role and importance of innovation in the healthcare sector to improve the quality of healthcare, enhance diagnostic and treatment capabilities, as well as promote progress in medical research, thereby ensuring sustainable development in the healthcare field. Accessing and promoting innovation and development in healthcare is a key factor in the process of restructuring and improving Vietnam's healthcare system to better respond to future challenges.

Digital transformation in healthcare has been among the key focal points of the Vietnamese government, in line with the global trend. Recently, the Ministry of Health promulgated the Health Digital Transformation Programme with a vision towards 2030. Some of the proposed goals include ensuring security in medical data management, disease management and public health on digital platforms as well as applying digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), and Blockchain, in healthcare activities. In collaboration with top healthcare experts in Vietnam, the content presented and discussed by international experts in the field of digital technology from IQVIA and Microsoft are expected to offer intriguing insights and valuable experiences for digital transformation efforts in Vietnam.

The event this year also marks the anniversary of 25 years of partnership between the health sector in Vietnam with Pharma Group and its members, with the same sustainable goal for a healthy and prosperous Vietnam from an innovation-based foundation.

The forum is expected to attract a wide range of attendees, including Representatives of the Government of Vietnam, Embassies, the medical community (Medical Associations, Healthcare Practitioners, Hospital representatives), world-leading universities and research institutes, Medical-Pharma Universities in Vietnam, International experts, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies both domestically and internationally, and Media.