"Traditional medicine is a vital part of Vietnam's healthcare system, a valuable treasure of knowledge and a cultural heritage that must be preserved and promoted in the new context," stated Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha at the International Scientific Conference on the Application of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies in Traditional Medicine (AITM 2026). The Central Hospital of Acupuncture organized the conference on 5/6, bringing together managers, healthcare experts, scientists, and technology enterprises from Vietnam and abroad.

The Deputy Minister reiterated recent directives from General Secretary and President To Lam on developing traditional medicine based on science and technology, innovation, standardization, and digitalization. This is considered a significant shift to transform traditional values into new drivers for the healthcare sector.

Doctors use AI-integrated machines for disease screening. *Photo: Le Nga*

Artificial intelligence, big data, digital technology, and smart platforms are creating profound changes in the global healthcare sector. AI is widely applied in supporting diagnosis, treatment, scientific research, managing electronic health records, and hospital administration.

For traditional medicine, the potential for technology application is immense. Many specific aspects of traditional medicine, such as the four diagnostic methods (tu chan), syndrome differentiation and treatment (bien chung luan tri), physical condition assessment, acupuncture point selection, treatment response monitoring, rehabilitation, or proactive health care, can be effectively supported by modern technologies.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that "to effectively apply artificial intelligence, quality data is essential". He added that standardizing professional terminology, patient records, clinical data, and treatment outcomes is the foundation for building AI systems for research, training, and medical examination and treatment.

However, the Deputy Minister believes that artificial intelligence does not replace medical practitioners. Technology is merely a supportive tool; the professional expertise, clinical experience, medical ethics, and professional responsibility of practitioners remain the decisive factors for the quality of medical examination and treatment.

Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha speaks at the conference. *Photo: Le Nga*

According to Associate Professor, Doctor Tran Van Thanh, Director of the Central Hospital of Acupuncture, Vietnam possesses a unique advantage with its long-standing traditional medicine system and rapidly developing digital technology ecosystem. Combining these two fields not only enhances treatment effectiveness but also creates opportunities to introduce Vietnamese traditional medicine knowledge to the international scientific community through data and scientific evidence.

The Ministry of Health will continue to refine policy mechanisms, promote scientific research, digital transformation, human resource development, and expand international cooperation to maximize the potential of traditional medicine in the new phase.

Le Nga