The cooperation was part of activities marking the International Day of Older Persons and the Action Month for Older Persons in Viet Nam.
Under the cooperation, the Viet Nam Association of the Elderly, VNVC Vaccination System and Tam Anh General Hospital will work together to develop a continuous healthcare model, ranging from disease prevention in healthy individuals, early detection, treatment and management of underlying conditions to rehabilitation, thereby helping older people maintain their health, mobility, and independence.
Through the network of Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs established by the Viet Nam Association of the Elderly, experts, doctors, and healthcare workers from the Tam Anh–VNVC Healthcare Ecosystem will bring healthcare knowledge closer to older people in the community. The content will cover disease prevention, nutrition, physical activity, fall prevention, safe medication use, and early recognition of abnormal signs to ensure timely medical examinations.
The programmes will also focus on mental and psychological health through counselling, screening, early detection, and treatment support. In addition, the parties will co-organise thematic sessions to help older people identify misleading health information and prevent scams, contributing to protecting their health and safety in daily life.
According to Dr Nguyen Minh Hang, Director of the Medical Centre under the VNVC Vaccination System, life expectancy in Viet Nam is increasing, but the number of years people live in good health has not kept pace. Many people spend their final years living with illnesses and declining physical fitness, which reduces their quality of life, increases dependence, and places a greater care burden on their families.
“We hope older people will not only live longer but also live healthier lives, care for themselves, and enjoy their later years with their families. Cooperation with the Viet Nam Association of the Elderly will make disease prevention, vaccination, and healthcare knowledge, from basic to specialised, more accessible and bring it closer to older people in their local communities,” Dr Nguyen Minh Hang said.
At Tam Anh General Hospital, older people receive examinations, screening, treatment, and health management through a multidisciplinary coordination involving geriatric medicine, nutrition, exercise medicine, rehabilitation, and psychology, among other fields, with the aim of controlling underlying conditions and maintaining physical fitness and quality of life.
Professor and People’s Doctor Dr Ngo Quy Chau, Medical Director of Tam Anh General Hospital in Ha Noi, said older people often suffer from multiple chronic diseases at the same time, while their ability to recover gradually declines. An infection such as influenza can destabilise underlying conditions, leading to hospitalisation and prolonged intensive care. Following a serious illness, older people may experience declining mobility and shift from being able to care for themselves to requiring support from family members.
Care for older people should combine vaccination, physical activity, and nutrition with early detection and control of underlying conditions, focusing not only on treating diseases but also on maintaining physical fitness, mobility, and the ability to care for themselves.
Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Viet Nam Association of the Elderly, said that as people age, the risk of developing multiple chronic diseases, complications, and declining mobility increases. Therefore, the association is focusing on bringing healthcare activities closer to older people where they live, with an emphasis on “preventing diseases early and proactively.”
At the signing ceremony, the VNVC Vaccination System donated 10,000 doses of next-generation flu vaccine to the Viet Nam Association of the Elderly, marking the start of healthcare and proactive disease prevention activities for older people in the community.
Influenza is a common infectious disease but can cause serious consequences in older people, particularly those with cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, or multiple chronic conditions. It can cause pneumonia and respiratory failure, destabilise underlying conditions, and increase the risk of hospitalisation.
Under the programme, annual flu vaccination is one of the disease prevention measures that help reduce the risk of severe influenza, complications, and hospitalisation among older people.
Ngo Chi Dung, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of the Tam Anh–VNVC Healthcare Ecosystem, said population ageing requires developing more comprehensive and coordinated long-term care capabilities for older people. VNVC aims to bring preventive healthcare, vaccination, diagnosis, and treatment services closer to older people.
Viet Nam is entering a period of rapid population ageing, with around 16.5 million people aged 60 and over, accounting for 16% of the population. Average life expectancy is 74.7 years, while the number of years lived in good health is around 65.4 years.
According to the data provided, around 60.9% of older people suffer from three or more diseases; non-communicable diseases account for 95% of the disease burden; 55% experience difficulties walking; and 45% experience difficulties with daily activities.
The Healthcare Programme for Older People through 2030 sets a target that, from 2026, older people will receive at least one free health examination or screening each year and have their health records established and managed. By 2030, at least 90% of older people are expected to have non-communicable diseases detected, treated, and managed.
The cooperation between the Viet Nam Association of the Elderly and VNVC is expected to contribute to strengthening healthcare for older people through disease prevention, early detection, and continuous health management starting at the community level.
