A significant digital health partnership took shape in Ho Chi Minh City on January 27, 2026, during the UK–Vietnam Digital Health Transformation Conference. On this occasion, two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were signed, marking a major step forward in bilateral collaboration.
The first MOU links The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), a UK-based health software company, with the Vietnam Medical Informatics Association. Specifically, this agreement will guide joint efforts to develop and implement electronic medical records (EMR) across Vietnam from 2026 to 2031. By doing so, it aims to modernize patient data management and support a more connected national health system.
The second MOU connects the Civic Health Innovation Labs at the University of Liverpool with the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City. Importantly, this collaboration focuses on scientific research, knowledge exchange, and medical education. Moreover, it serves as a flagship initiative under the broader Liverpool–Ho Chi Minh City City-to-City partnership.
Professor Iain Buchan, Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at the University of Liverpool, outlined the vision behind this digital health partnership. According to him, the goal is to build AI solutions that truly meet people’s everyday health needs. To achieve this, the project will bring together data, data scientists, AI engineers, clinicians, and communities. He stressed that AI must work not just inside hospitals but also in people’s daily lives.
For example, Professor Buchan cited UK data showing that 30% to 50% of medicines prescribed by the National Health Service are not taken as directed. This reveals a critical gap in understanding real-world patient behavior. Therefore, he argued for AI systems that engage with individuals outside clinical settings to capture what actually happens at home or in the community.
In addition, he emphasized the need to transform medical education. “We aim to train a new generation of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who will work alongside AI,” he said. This means future clinicians must not only use AI tools but also help design and improve them. Consequently, training programs must now integrate data science, AI, medicine, and pharmacy into a unified curriculum.
Furthermore, Professor Buchan praised Vietnam’s progress in primary healthcare and its move toward integrated, data-driven systems. However, he cautioned that success requires more than adopting technology. Instead, professionals must learn to shape, govern, and ethically steer these innovations.
Both countries, he noted, face rising challenges from population ageing. As people live longer with multiple chronic conditions, care becomes more complex. Thus, new models must extend beyond hospitals into social care and community support. Here, the concept of “civic health innovation” becomes vital—linking healthcare, communities, and shared information to create resilient, people-centered systems.
Overall, this digital health partnership represents a forward-looking alliance. By combining UK expertise in AI and health informatics with Vietnam’s dynamic healthcare development, both nations aim to build smarter, more inclusive, and sustainable health futures.
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