New workforce database system helps Viet Nam manage human resources for health

Addressing the long-standing challenge of fragmented workforce data in the healthcare system, Viet Nam’s Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Bank have joined forces to develop a national human resource database. The database will consolidate the country’s dispersed human resource data into a centralized system, seamlessly integrated with the national District Health Information System 2 and the Home Affairs Ministry’s database.  

The fragmentation of health workforce data across Viet Nam has created significant obstacles in healthcare management. Without consolidated information, accurately assessing the distribution, qualifications, and availability of healthcare personnel has proven challenging. This limits the ability to plan, allocate resources, and formulate effective policies. The COVID-19 pandemic particularly highlighted these weaknesses when such essential information proved difficult to obtain when needed most.

Addressing the health sector’s unique needs, the MoH has developed specialized software that will digitize the health workforce data and synchronize it across other national platform databases, enabling comprehensive and real-time workforce management. The initiative gained essential support through its integration into the Investing and Innovating for Grassroots Service Delivery (GSD) Project, which emphasizes improving health services at the grassroots level, particularly in remote rural areas. The new workforce management system will ensure that healthcare providers are effectively distributed and equipped to serve the population.

The implementation has shown promising results with over 50% of provinces having submitted their data by September 2024. Full participation is expected by the end of 2024, with plans to include private healthcare workforce data in the near future. This initiative, which receives funding support from the Australian Government and the Bank through the Advance UHC Trust Fund, is an important step towards modernizing healthcare management, enhancing workforce efficiency, and advancing universal health coverage in Viet Nam.