NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL HEALTH RECORD: BARRIERS TO ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS IMPLEMENTATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Traditional paper-based medical records face multiple limitations, including poor standardization and inefficiency in data retrieval. Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) offer solutions to these limitations and are key to healthcare digitalization. However, EMRs implementation remains inconsistent across Southeast Asia due to varied systemic and contextual barriers. A narrative review was conducted using three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) to identify peer-reviewed articles published between 2008 and 2023. Search terms included “Electronic Medical Records,” “EMR,” and “Southeast Asia.” Inclusion criteria focused on studies describing the implementation challenges of EMRs in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. A total of 22 relevant articles were included. No formal quality appraisal was conducted due to the narrative nature of the review. Several barriers to implementation EMRs were identified such as high initial investment costs, limited IT infrastructure, lack of skilled personnel, resistance to technology adoption, data security concerns, and fragmented governance. While some countries, such as Malaysia and Vietnam, have national frameworks in place, challenges persist in rural access, interoperability, and policy enforcement. Despite growing interest and partial progress in EMRs adoption, Southeast Asian countries face systemic and logistical challenges that hinder full implementation. Coordinated regional strategies, greater investment in capacity building, and strong governance are essential for sustainable digital health transformation in the region.