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 the network, said this network would be the first online tool to help doctors digitise their statistics, manage patients’ medical records, write out online prescriptions and exchange information with colleagues and drug stores.

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

Doctor Nguyen Thanh Binh of a military hospital said patients would also be helped, as they could access their information through the network as well.

They could even receive consultancy services in rural areas when they are far away from doctors or clinics.

Binh said this was the first time in Vietnam that patients could make appointments with doctors and register for testing services via the internet.

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

Hospitals can use this network to minimise administrative reforms and create 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 be necessary for all doctors and hospitals to share information./.