Viet Nam: Training Program in Japan on Tele-Health Conducted

The Project for Strengthening Capacity Development Systems for Health Professionals through Tele-Health in Viet Nam, with the cooperation of the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS), conducted a training program in Japan from June 7 to 19, 2026, for Vietnamese counterpart personnel on tele-health.
The program brought together nine participants, including government officials, medical doctors, and IT officers from the Medical Services Administration of the Ministry of Health, the Lao Cai Provincial Department of Health, Provincial General Hospital No. 1, and target local healthcare facilities. Through lectures delivered by experts from the Japan Telemedicine and Telecare Association, and other organizations, participants learned about Japan’s policies, regulatory frameworks, initiatives, and challenges related to tele-health.
Participants also visited healthcare facilities in Nagasaki (Tsushima) and Yamaguchi Prefectures (Hofu, Shunan, and Iwakuni) to gain insights into how tele-health is being utilized to address challenges in rural healthcare delivery. In addition, they visited a patient’s home in a remote area of Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, where they observed an actual tele-health session accompanied by a nurse (i.e., D-to-P with N) in operation.
As this year’s program included a larger number of participants directly engaged in tele-health services implementation in Lao Cai Province, it provided valuable opportunities to learn about Japan’s bottom-up approaches for system design and practical examples of service delivery models that respond to local needs. Participants also enhanced their understanding of the importance of developing user-friendly guidelines and operational frameworks that can be effectively utilized by healthcare professionals.
On the final day of the program, participants presented action plans for promoting tele-health in Viet Nam, including the pilot telehealth activities in Lao Cai Province, drawing on the knowledge and experience gained in Japan. It is expected that the lessons learned through the program will contribute to the development of a sustainable tele-health system in Viet Nam and improve access to quality healthcare services, particularly in underserved areas.