Health

For more than 40 years, vaccination has been one of the most important preventive health measures, transforming the landscape of infectious diseases in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam’s 108 Military Central Hospital and DIAKOVERE Annastift Hospital of Germany have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in orthopaedic trauma care, paving the way for in-depth collaboration in medical consultations, training, scientific research, and the adoption and transfer of advanced techniques.

The Viet Nam Association of the Elderly and the Tam Anh-Viet Nam Vaccine Company (VNVC) Healthcare Ecosystem have partnered to implement the “Comprehensive Healthcare for Older People in Viet Nam” project, aiming to strengthen disease prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation for older people. On this occasion, VNVC donated 10,000 doses of flu vaccine to older people nationwide.

The Central Centre for Health Communication and Education under the Ministry of Health launched a photo contest on the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, themed “Vaccination Journey – For a Healthy Viet Nam”, at a ceremony held in Ha Noi on September 30.

The Ministry of Health is proposing to expand the scope of coverage provided by the Health Insurance Fund, including adding screening and early diagnosis for seven types of cancer to the roadmap for coverage by the fund. If promulgated, the policy will create more opportunities to detect diseases at an early stage and reduce the financial burden on patients, while also requiring careful calculations to both expand benefits and ensure the balance of the Health Insurance Fund.

Pharmedi Viet Nam 2026, an international exhibition on pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, opened in Ho Chi Minh City on September 22.

The Vietnamese pharmaceutical market has reached a value of approximately 7 billion USD and is growing by around 12 to 15% annually. Alongside improving production capacity, digital transformation is gradually changing the way medicines are managed, produced, distributed and used, thereby reducing procedures, increasing transparency and enhancing the ability to control the market.

The Vietnamese people have a rich tradition of the moral values of “when drinking water, remember its source" and “respecting the elderly and honouring longevity”. This is a noble cultural value, carrying not only cultural significance but also political, social, economic, national defence and security significance in the new era.

International visitors are in need, hospitals have the necessary capacity, but the door to Viet Nam’s healthcare services remains blocked by a “bottleneck” in visa procedures. Medical visas therefore need to become the “key” to opening this procedural door so that patients do not have to turn to another country simply because of administrative barriers.

The healthcare sector is entering a new stage of development, with people’s demand for healthcare continuing to rise. Disease patterns are changing rapidly, non-communicable diseases are increasing, the population is ageing quickly, and issues related to mental health, the environment and nutrition are posing unprecedented requirements.

After more than three months of implementation, the health check-up programme for residents of Ho Chi Minh City has surpassed the four-million mark. The result reflects the coordinated efforts of local authorities and healthcare facilities, as well as strong public participation.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has directed the health sector to resolve supply bottlenecks and establish transparent mechanisms that ensure an adequate supply of medicines and medical equipment at reasonable prices.

Food safety transcends an individual meal; it fundamentally impacts public health and demands accountability across the entire supply chain. At schools, where millions of pupils eat school meals every day, the need for food controls becomes increasingly critical.

Viet Nam’s health insurance policy is entering a new phase of development, with participants entitled to greater benefits in healthcare and medical examination and treatment. In addition, a suite of new health insurance policies have recently taken effect, alongside plans for additional pilot schemes and the goal of achieving 100% health insurance coverage by 2030.

Anh Sang International Eye Care System and Singapore-based investment fund NSQ Capital have announced the completion of an investment designed to enhance professional expertise, training human resources, applying technology, and expanding access to ophthalmic services in Viet Nam.

In order to build a network of healthcare facilities that meets the needs of the people in the new situation, particularly with the implementation of the two-tier local government model, the Ministry of Health has recently issued a decision to adjust the planning of the healthcare facility network for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

Ho Chi Minh City has become the first city in Viet Nam and the 57th globally to join the Cities for Better Health network, a Novo Nordisk-led initiative aimed at strengthening disease prevention, improving health literacy and building healthier communities.

Pharmaceutical management is not confined to documents, dossiers or licences. It is a chain of responsibility extending from manufacturing plants to hospitals, and from management data to individual pharmacies and patients. The health sector is gradually standardising and harmonising its regulations while aligning with international practices, with the aim of ensuring that people have access to medicines that are safe, effective, of high quality and reasonably priced.

Traditional medicine is recognised as a pillar of Viet Nam's healthcare system in protecting and improving people's health. However, many experts believe that the sector has not realised its full potential due to the lack of a comprehensive legal framework and effective implementation mechanisms.

On August 10, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1515/QD-TTg approving the project “Development of the pre-hospital emergency care system for the 2026-2030 period”.