The Smart E-health Network on www.thuoc.net , which aims to minimise doctors’errors and support patients during their treatments via digitised statistics,was recently introduced.

Nguyen Tuan Quang, chief engineer of thenetwork, said this network would be the first online tool to help doctorsdigitise their statistics, manage patients’ medical records, write out onlineprescriptions and exchange information with colleagues and drug stores.

Online prescriptions would help prevent errors such as incorrect drugnames and problems due to bad handwriting, said Quang.

Doctor NguyenThanh Binh of a military hospital said patients would also be helped, as theycould access their information through the network as well.

They couldeven receive consultancy services in rural areas when they are far away fromdoctors or clinics.

Binh said this was the first time in Vietnam thatpatients could make appointments with doctors and register for testing servicesvia the internet.

“With this network, patients can save time andminimise overcrowding in hospitals while saving money by knowing in advance theprice of medicines,” said Nguyen Xuan Lan, a patient at the Viet Duc hospital.

Hospitals can use this network to minimise administrative reforms andcreate an online connection with other hospitals nationwide.

So far,more than 3,000 doctors have signed up to become members of the network.

However, Quang said that for the network to be efficient, it would benecessary for all doctors and hospitals to share information./.