Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc attends a ceremony on Saturday to launch a remote medical examination and treatment platform and Bluezone application to help the community fight the COVID-19 pandemic. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc attended a ceremony on Saturday to launch two new high tech apps to help prevent and control COVID-19.

The technology will allow medical examinations and treatment to be carried out remotely. The second piece of equipment uses a Bluezone app and can detect other people nearby who are positive for the virus through previously saved data.

This will help the authorities track and trace people who have come into close contact with positive patients.

At the launch event, doctors from the Hà Nội Medical University Hospital used the remote medical examination and treatment platform to connect with the general hospital of Mường Khương District in the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai.

During the demonstration, it revealed its ability to carry out electrocardiographic consultations and ultrasound scans remotely for people with chronic diseases who should be examined.

They also connected online with the general hospital of Hà Tĩnh City in the central province of the same name and offered an online check-up for a patient in Quảng Xương District of central Thanh Hóa Province.

The doctors provided thorough consultations for the patients through an app on their mobile phones, in which they can see each other.

Meanwhile, Bluezone is a solution applying Bluetooth low energy (BLE). When smartphones are installed with the app, they are able to detect others within two metres and memorise data about themselves.

If the app user is positive for the SARS-CoV-2 (known as F0), known through the saved data, health authorities can identify the F1s who came in close contact with the positive patient and the system will alert the F1 users about the risk of infection.

They will be also provided with instructions to contact the health authorities for assistance.

The app is also completely confidential, anonymous and transparent, as it only stores data on the user's phone, and does not transfer user’s information or locations to the system.

Speaking at the event, PM Phúc highly evaluated the remote medical examination and treatment platform. He emphasised this was an initial milestone towards the digital transformation of the health sector and towards a larger goal of becoming a digital and smart nation.

The platform, developed by the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group, was expected to be deployed with low initial costs, he said, adding that it could help save money and time for patients and reduce overcrowding at higher-level hospitals.

The Government leader also praised the Bluezone app for promptly providing people with another tool to safeguard their health and the community.

He asked the Ministries of Information and Communication, and Health to coordinate in speeding up digital transformation in the health sector and gradually form a healthcare and disease prevention system based on digital technology, and applying the technology in all health clinics.

PM Phúc also praised efforts made by doctors, technology experts and businesses in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The coronavirus outbreak requires hospitals to offer more remote medical examination channels to help people gain quickly, convenient and safe access to health services," he stressed.

The PM asked the Hà Nội Medical University Hospital to drastically implement remote medical check-ups and treatment, and requested tthe Health Ministry to expand the application to other hospitals across the nation. — VNS