Vietnam Liver Cancer Elimination

2. Problem Definition: Why Vietnam?

Every 20 minutes, another Vietnamese dies from liver cancer

25,300

Annual Deaths

Top 5-7 globally

87.8%

Late Detection

Stage 3-4 diagnosis

11.5%

Viral Hepatitis

HBV 10.5% + HCV 1%

5,500+

Can Be Saved

With screening

Vietnam: World's Worst Levels

#1 liver cancer mortality among 11 Southeast Asian countries
Top 5-7 globally in liver cancer incidence
Male liver cancer incidence is 4.26x higher than female
10.5% HBV + 1% HCV carriers (8-10M people)
Only 7.6% diagnosed via screening, 92.4% visit after symptoms appear

🏥 Vietnam Healthcare Reality Check

Vietnam has 12.5 doctors per 10,000 people (2023) - not a shortage
53% of physicians concentrated in urban areas (only 28% of population)
The problem isn't doctor shortage, but geographical maldistribution

Our Solution: Technology-enabled distribution of Korean medical expertise to Vietnamese patients.

3. Our Solution

AI-Powered Healthcare Ecosystem (Already Operational)

🚨 The Real Barrier: Not Money, But Motivation

Why Free Screening Programs Fail

Vietnam already has government-subsidized liver screening programs
Many hospitals offer low-cost or free HBV/HCV testing
Yet only 7.6% are diagnosed through screening
92.4% wait until symptoms appear (when it's too late)

The problem isn't cost. It's that asymptomatic people don't get tested.

💡 Why AI Changes Everything

1. Behavioral Nudges at Scale

Our AI sends personalized risk messages via WhatsApp/Zalo (used by 95% of Vietnamese). Not generic reminders, but tailored messages based on age, gender, family history, and risk factors.

2. Loss Aversion Psychology

People respond to potential loss more than potential gain. AI delivers targeted messages: "Don't let your family lose you to a preventable disease"

3. Zero Friction Experience

Traditional: See poster → Remember to call → Take time off → Find clinic → Wait
Our model: Receive message → Reply "Yes" → Get appointment → 15-minute visit

4. Family Cascade Amplification

When we find one carrier, AI automatically sends personalized messages to immediate family. Expected multiplier: 4-5x additional screenings per positive case

5. Gamification & Social Proof

"1,247 people in your district got tested this month. Join them."
Corporate leaderboards, community challenges, family completion badges.

The Core Innovation

We're not just offering free tests.
We're using AI to make people WANT to get tested.

Expected Participation Rate Increase: 10x

From 7.6% to 70%+ screening participation through behavioral AI

Evidence-Based Treatment Outcomes

Stage-Based Survival Rates

Stage 0-1 (Early): 50-90% 5-year survival
Stage 2: 20-50% 5-year survival
Stage 3-4 (Late): <10% 5-year survival

Key Finding: Early detection through screening increases survival rates by 5-10x

🎯 HCV: The Curable Disease

95%+ cure rate with Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs)
12-week treatment course (vs. lifelong HBV management)
Generic DAAs in Vietnam: $600-$1,000 per complete treatment
Prevention impact: 70-80% reduction in liver cancer risk after cure
Expected findings: 1,000-2,000 HCV carriers in our 100,000 screening

HCV treatment represents the highest ROI: $1,000 investment prevents $50,000+ in cancer costs

🌐 Korea-Vietnam Medical Knowledge Transfer Platform

Vietnam has sufficient doctors (12.5 per 10,000 people) but faces severe geographical maldistribution. Our solution leverages technology to connect Korean hepatology experts with Vietnamese physicians, providing real-time consultation for complex cases without physical travel.

Korean Expert Partners

Korean Society of Hospital Medicine (대한병원의학회)

Confirmed partner for healthcare delivery optimization

Seoul National University Liver Research Institute

Target partner for hepatology expertise

Korean Association for the Study of the Liver (대한간학회)

Target partner for clinical guidelines

Why This Platform Works

WhatsApp/Zalo: Used by 95%+ Vietnamese - no barriers
Proven AI System: Already handling 6,000+ monthly consultations since March 2025
5 Regional Hubs: Geographic coverage across North, Central, South Vietnam
Cost-Efficient: 1/5 the cost of traditional healthcare delivery
Permanent Infrastructure: Centers remain operational after program ends

Vietnam Impact

Part 2: Problem & Solution