How Tech is Driving Healthcare and Life Sciences in 2026

Healthcare and life sciences impact us all, from the nurse at a local clinic and medicine that heals a loved one, to the breakthrough treatments that save lives. In Vietnam, this sector is expanding rapidly, driven by rising healthcare demand, an aging population, and technological innovation.

But rapid growth brings complexity. Talent shortages, regulatory compliance, and digital transformation are reshaping the industry. At the centre of this evolution is artificial intelligence (AI), a force redefining everything from drug discovery to workforce planning.

AI: The Cornerstone of Future Health Systems

AI adoption in the healthcare and life sciences industry is accelerating. Hospitals are using AI for early diagnosis, predictive analytics, and real-time monitoring to improve patient outcomes. Pharmaceutical companies leverage AI to speed up R&D and reduce time-to-market for critical therapies. Yet, despite its promise, only 19% of employers said that they are fully utilize AI in hiring processes.

This gap between potential and reality is significant. Leaders see productivity potential with 96% of executives believing AI will boost productivity, but more than 77% workers still feel unclear or overwhelmed by AI.

This disconnect underscores a critical challenge: Technology alone cannot transform the industry. Organizations must prioritize workforce education, upskilling, and structured change management to fully unlock AI’s value.

The Patent Cliff and R&D Acceleration

The global pharmaceutical industry faces a $236 billion patent cliff in the period between 2025 and 2030 with numerous blockbuster drugs losing exclusivity. This drives an urgent need for innovation and renewed R&D investment, with over half of biopharma leaders acknowledging the need to overhaul their development strategies.

Innovations such as digital twins, predictive modelling, and AI-driven discovery are powering drug discovery. However, talent remains a bottleneck with 78% of employers in Asia-Pacific reporting difficulty finding the skilled talent they need in healthcare and life sciences sector in 2025.

Skills That Matter Most in an AI-Driven Era

As AI and machine learning become integral to healthcare and life sciences operations, demand is rising for professionals who combine clinical expertise with data fluency and use analytics to guide decisions. Hybrid roles blending data science, engineering or machine learning with medical or biological expertise will become increasingly pivotal to the innovation landscape.

Yet, while technical skills are critical, human skills still remain irreplaceable. Attributes such as ethical judgment, patient care, and communication are among the hardest to automate. This creates a dual imperative for employers: upskill for AI and digital fluency while simultaneously investing in interpersonal skills that enable more personalized care and elevate the patient experience.

Twin Factories and Global Workforce Landscape

To mitigate supply chain risks, pharmaceutical companies have been adopting “twin factory” models - establishing parallel manufacturing hubs in different regions. While this helps business cope with supply-chain disruptions and inflation, it also impacts the labour market.  When a new facility is established, the ripple effect is substantial. Talented engineers, scientists, technicians, project managers, quality specialists seeking better job opportunities – along with their families - will be drawn to the region.

Meanwhile, cross-border talent solutions are gaining momentum. Many R&D and data science positions can now be performed from anywhere in the world, while manufacturing roles continue to depend on workforce anchored in local facilities. Simultaneously, workforce leaders are significantly increasing their focus on upskilling and reskilling to address the persistent talent gaps within the healthcare and life sciences sector.