Comprehensive Cancer Care Strategy Encompassed by Siemens Healthineers Entirely
In a bid to enhance cancer care in Vietnam, Siemens Healthineers has partnered with research firm YouGov, surveying over 6,000 people across six Southeast Asian markets, including Vietnam.
The survey findings, released in early September, revealed that while 84% of respondents acknowledged the importance of early screening, only 34% undergo regular checks. The reasons for this discrepancy are varied, with 35% of participants stating they didn't see the need, 22% citing high costs, and another 22% expressing fear of a diagnosis.
Siemens Healthineers is advocating for the development of purpose-built oncology centers in Vietnam, including breast- or lung-cancer-specific facilities. The company's approach to cancer care emphasizes connecting technology, expertise, and awareness, and placing patients at the center.
Access to modern cancer therapies remains limited in Vietnam, with many treatments not being reimbursed by public health insurance, leaving families to shoulder steep costs. To address this issue, Siemens Healthineers executives are advocating for expanding mandatory corporate health checkups in Vietnam to include advanced diagnostic screenings like mammography and CT lung cancer screening.
Siemens Healthineers is deploying digital tools to create end-to-end solutions - from capturing health data to supporting accurate diagnoses and enabling tailored treatment plans. The company is shifting its focus from selling medical devices to acting as a strategic partner in building integrated ecosystems for healthcare in Southeast Asia.
In Vietnam, the surge in cancer cases reflects an ageing population, high pollution levels, smoking, alcohol consumption, and low participation in preventive health programs. To combat this, Siemens Healthineers will support the shift towards specialized cancer centers with technology, planning, education, and international collaboration.
Private hospitals in Vietnam are also raising standards by investing in advanced equipment. Fabian Martin Singer, general manager of Siemens Healthineers in Vietnam, emphasizes the importance of public procurement policies that enable the purchase of high-end equipment.
Assoc. Prof. Tran Thi Thanh Huong, vice director of the Vietnam National Cancer Institute, suggested that the government needs to step in and negotiate lower drug prices while updating treatment protocols in line with global practices. Singer offers to collaborate with the government to prioritize cancer care, channel resources into rural technology and training, and leverage international expertise.
At the Hospital Management Asia Conference in Ho Chi Minh City on September 10, 2023, experts and stakeholders from Siemens Healthineers were convened to discuss how to improve diagnostic accuracy as part of the broader focus on enhancing hospital management through digital transformation, quality, patient safety, and effective leadership in healthcare.
Awareness of therapies remains skewed towards conventional methods like radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, while familiarity with newer options such as immunotherapy, image-guided treatment, and personalised medicine remains low. Siemens Healthineers partners with hospitals in Vietnam to spread accurate and novel health information through social media platforms like Facebook and Zalo.
The World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer recorded 20 million new cases globally in 2022, a figure projected to rise 77% by 2050 to more than 35 million annually. Fabrice Leguet, Siemens Healthineers' managing director for Southeast Asia, stated that getting the diagnosis right is the only way to get the treatment right.
The survey also found gaps in understanding post-treatment care. Although 74% had heard of follow-up support, nearly half could not explain what it involves. Siemens Healthineers' corporate health programs could become a cornerstone of partnerships in Vietnam, aiming to raise clinical standards and harness social media for education and early detection.
