Medix Global (‘Medix’) sees significant opportunity to invest in Vietnam’s burgeoning digital healthcare industry. The global healthcare services provider is looking to forge collaborations with local healthcare businesses.

Medix will also focus on joint areas of research and sharing international best practices to promote awareness around health management and the importance of prevention. The areas Medix sees as most relevant to Vietnam relate to Cancer (particularly liver Cancer), Cardiovascular and Diabetes. The collaborations would be forged through the Company’s investment arm, Medix Ventures.

Addressing the press briefing from Tel Aviv, Israel – due to the pandemic’s travel restrictions – Medix Chief Executive and Founder Sigal Atzmon outlined her vision, for every member of the Vietnamese population to be given access to personalized quality healthcare.

“Since our launch in July, Medix has already seen significant demand for our services as customers look for support on their medical journey,” said Atzmon. “With this in mind, we are looking for innovative companies in Vietnam or international companies looking to expand into Vietnam that can combine data-driven solutions in the healthcare space. This will increase the efficiency and technologies necessary to bridge gaps and provide better access to quality care.”

Founded in 2006, Medix serves over six million clients in 90 countries, directly employs over 300 in-house doctors and has access to a network of over 4,000 quality accredited doctors across 2,000 leading hospitals around the world.

“As our teams around the world have demonstrated over the past 15 years, our mission is clear – to increase the accessibility of care and patient engagement while also implementing innovative solutions and Apps to streamline workflows. We want to bring the same success to the Vietnamese people, young and old, and without being constrained by distance or location,” Atzmon added.

The announcement came as the Company unveiled its 2021 growth strategy, which adds to Medix’ flagship service “Personal Medical Case Management Service” already available in the market.  In an exclusive partnership with AIA Vietnam – first announced in July 2020 – Medix is offering its services to AIA customers dealing with serious medical conditions.

In stressing the importance of providing quality healthcare for people in Vietnam, Atzmon said Medix would focus on providing the personalised support by tapping into innovative services that improve not only the individual’s experience but that also benefit the healthcare landscape of the country. Medix sees very promising initiatives from the government and local healthcare stakeholders, and the company looks forward to supporting these efforts.

“Challenges remain in some parts of Vietnam with regard to connectivity, accessibility and a need to increase health literacy,” Atzmon added. “We believe that digital healthcare solutions will help address these and further advance Vietnam’s healthcare landscape. People must be made aware of how they can better manage their health and obtain access to the necessary personalized tools. Prevention is the only way to keep health systems sustainable. If someone needs treatment, there is no need to always travel for that care support. There are excellent doctors and healthcare facilities locally in Vietnam.”

Through the collaboration with Medix, we are able to share top-level expertise and knowledge, tap into our network from around the world and provide the support for local care implementation. We are excited about the prospects in Vietnam and look forward to introducing innovative models and digital tools that will make a real difference to people’s lives”

Vietnam reports about 165,000 new cancer cases, and 115,000 cancer deaths each year. Of these, liver cancer (25,000) and lung cancer (21,000) account for 40% of the lives lost. The age-standardized rate of cancer mortality in the region is 104 (per 100,000 population), placing Vietnam 57^th on the global ranking. According to recent evidence, between 30% and 50% of cancer deaths can be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk areas. These include avoiding tobacco, cutting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy body weight and regular exercise.

Another area of focus for Medix is conditions related to Cardiovascular and Diabetes. Of Vietnam’s 96.5 million population, approximately 5.76 million people suffer from diabetes-related ailments and the figure is growing. Diabetes care creates a heavy burden on the region’s healthcare system, and for many, developing the condition can be avoided.