AI project empowers healthcare workers, frees up time for patient care and research
- The Xuan
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
(VOVWORLD) - A project titled “AI Opportunities for Healthcare Professionals” has been launched, aiming to reach 15,000 medical workers across Vietnam. The 2-year project is implemented by VietHealth, a Vietnamese organization specializing in science and technology for medicine and public health. Nguyen Dinh Nguyen, Chief Medical Officer of VietHealth and Project Director, now shares with VOV24/7 reporter Bao Tram insights into the training program, how AI can transform the healthcare sector, and the challenges faced in practical implementation.
The first training session of “AI Opportunities for Healthcare Professionals” takes place after the opening ceremony on July 18, 2025, gathering 300 plus healthcare professionals from major medical facilities in Hanoi. (Photo: Hoang Pham)
Bao Tram: How does the project benefit Vietnamese healthcare professionals?
Mr. Nguyen: VietHealth’s course is structured around three pillars: mindset, skillset, and toolset. First, we focus on mindset, helping healthcare workers understand and approach AI with an open, informed perspective. This is foundational for everyone, regardless of role.
Next, the skillset component equips healthcare professionals with practical abilities to work efficiently with AI technologies. For example, they learn to evaluate AI-generated content, avoid misinformation, and assess potential risks.
Finally, the toolset helps them use tools like Google’s Gemini, ChatGPT, and other AI applications. We tailor this component to each profession. Doctors might use Gemini or ChatGPT, for example, to look up clinical guidelines or support research. Pharmacists could use Gemini to search for drug interactions or assist in lab work. Nurses and medical administrators will learn to use AI for everyday tasks like compiling reports or managing patient records.
Bao Tram: Some worry that AI could make us “lazy thinkers”, a dangerous possibility in medicine, where sound judgment is crucial. What’s your perspective?
Mr. Nguyen: That’s a global concern. But in healthcare, the situation is a bit different. Medical professionals everywhere are overwhelmed with administrative work: writing reports, managing files, and drafting paperwork. These repetitive and time-consuming tasks take away hours needed for patient care and research.
With AI, tasks that once took two or three hours can be finished in half an hour. That means more time for clinical work, more time for scientific reading, more focus on patients. So, AI isn’t about making people lazy. In the healthcare sector, overreliance on AI is unlikely, because every decision still requires verification and carries a high degree of responsibility.
Bao Tram: What challenges do healthcare professionals face when learning AI?
Mr. Nguyen: There are definitely challenges, and we’ve identified three main ones. First, a lack of time. The more senior the healthcare worker and the larger the hospital, the less time they have to pick up new technologies. Second, inadequate equipment and infrastructure. Some clinics are still using outdated devices that may not be compatible with AI tools. Spotty internet connectivity is another obstacle.
Third, and perhaps most important, is a hesitancy about new technology. Many older doctors tend to be cautious and wait until AI tools are officially approved for legal, ethical, or professional use before trying them. Medicine always puts patient safety first, and these reservations reflect that priority. What I mean is the biggest barrier is the mindset of each individual.
Bao Tram: So what changes can the participants expect from the course?
Mr. Nguyen: The program is based on Google’s AI Essentials curriculum. We’re not trying to turn everyone into AI experts, but to give them the foundation, from zero to one, to use AI safely and effectively.
There are many online AI courses, often run by self-proclaimed experts. These can be misleading, especially for healthcare staff who already have limited time. Our surveys at hospitals revealed that many staff have never even used an AI tool before. So our goal is to provide a solid introduction—tools and understanding to “get from zero to one”. If they want, they can choose to advance further afterward.
Bao Tram: Thank you, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nguyen, Chief Medical Officer of VietHealth, for your insights.
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