VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam will use books to record pregnancy time, children and women health data across the country, said a representative from the Ministry of Health.

Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said that the health data books for pregnant women and children have been applied in Japan for nearly 70 years and it has had good result in improving pregnant women and children; accordingly many nations in the world have followed suit.

In Vietnam, with the support of JICA, the Ministry had piloted the books in the northern provinces of Dien Bien, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa and the Mekong delta province of An Giang from February, 2011 to December, 2014. Through three year implementation in four provinces the health data books really helped to change knowledge and behaviors of pregnant women, women who are feeding babies and medical workers.

According to a survey carried out by the Maternal and Child Health Department under the Ministry of Health, knowledge of pregnant women about dangerous signs in pregnancy increased and the rate of visits to doctors for medical check-up in pregnancy also hiked.

Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said that the piloted program had achieved good result, helping to decrease mortality rate of pregnant women and children as well as narrow the gap of nutrition and health condition between women in different parts of the country.

Hence, the ministry proposed the health data books should be applied in all cities and provinces in the country from 2016, she said.

However, there have been many various health books such as vaccination record, health insurance card leading to complicated administrative formalities.

Therefore, in the future, the related agencies should consider using health data books only to provide comprehensive healthcare as well as reduce unnecessary documents for patients, she added.

SGGP