During the 2021-2025 period, the health sector will push strong and comprehensive reform to meet rising public demand for health care and protection, striving to achieve high rankings in health care as compared to ASEAN and Western Pacific nations.
Acting Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long at the meeting (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) ♔– During the 2021-2025 period, the health sector will push strong and comprehensive reform to meet rising public demand for health care and protection, striving to achieve high rankings in health care as compared to ASEAN and Western Pacific nations.
Acting Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long made the statement at a meeting held by the Standing Board of the NationalAssembly’s Committee on Socio-Economic Affairs in Hanoi onSeptember 17 to review the implementation of socio-economic targets and Statebudget estimate in nine months of this year and propose targets for 2021 and the2021-2026 period in health care and population field.
He said since the beginningof this year, public health care and protection has seen positive results amidthe COVID-19 pandemic, notably the number of hospital beds per 10,000 population andthe rate of medical insurance participation meeting and surpassing targets assigned by thelegislature.
꧒ Thehealth sector is forecast to achieve other goals such as rising average lifeexpectancy, strong decrease in child malnutrition, maternal and childmortalities, and others.
One ofthe outstanding results of the health sector in the past year was improvingpreventive medicine and prevention of dangerous infectious diseases such asEbola and MERS-COV, early discovery and treatment of non-communicable diseases,he said. However,he also admitted imbalance in health care service accessibility, overload incentral-level hospitals, limited management of private health services, slow publicinvestment disbursement, among others.
In the coming time, the health ministry will improve the capacity of preventive medicine system tocope with contingencies and public health incidents, ensure health security andfood safety, enhance the quality of health check-ups and treatment, increase scientificresearch and adopt modern technology in early discovery, diagnosis andtreatment of diseases, step up research and production of medical equipment andmedicines, he said.
🐭 Permanent deputy head of the committee Bui Sy Loi askedleaders of the ministry to collect opinions at the meeting to complete reportsfor submission to the committee’s plenary session and the NA’s upcoming 10th meeting./.
The Ministry of Health and the AIA (Vietnam) Life Insurance Co. Ltd on August 13 signed an agreement on financial support worth 23 billion VND (992,000 USD) for frontline medical workers in the COVID-19 combat.
Vietnam now boasts a nationwide healthcare network with 1,665 hospitals, 384 of which are non-public, supported by local commune- and ward-level stations. At the end of 2024, hospital bed capacity reached 34 per 10,000 people, slightly above the global average.
The 56-year-old patient from Quang Tri province was discharged in stable condition as he no longer experienced shortness of breath and was able to walk, move around, and eat normally.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Vu Trung, Director of the Pasteur Institute, said that under the MoU, the two sides committed to promoting diverse and practical collaborative activities, including joint conferences and workshops, exchanges of scholars, researchers and students, sharing academic materials, and the development of specific programmes and projects in scientific research, training, and epidemic prevention.
TytoCare, a leading Israeli telemedicine company based in Netanya, is willing to work with Vietnamese regulators, insurers, and healthcare providers to develop a sustainable digital health ecosystem.
The partnership is under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding on the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control, signed in Hanoi on July 22.
An estimated 7 million Vietnamese are currently living with diabetes, but about 50% remain undiagnosed, a dangerous gap that is fuelling serious, preventable complications and increasing the burden on the healthcare system.
In 2024, Vietnam achieved 99% coverage for the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine, up from 80% in 2023. Immunisation coverage in the country has not only rebounded to the high levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic but has now surpassed the rates recorded in 2019.
Health authorities in HCM City have issued an urgent alert after six people died from dengue fever, amid a spike in infections driven by the onset of the rainy season.
During the peak months of July and August 2025, the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) needs at least 90,000 units of blood to supply 180 hospitals in the northern region. However, despite continuous efforts, the reserve blood is still short of 30,000 units.
The Hanoi ceremony highlighted efforts to ensure all citizens, especially women and youth, can access accurate information and healthcare services to make informed reproductive choices.
After such a long time, the law has revealed many limitations, prompting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to gather opinions to amend the law to give more chances to thousands of patients every year.
Currently, cardiovascular specialists from the 108 Military Central Hospital are working alongside a team of Prof.Dr. Jan D. Schmitto, Deputy Director of MHH’s Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery on clinical trials for MCS devices, implanted in heart failure patients either as a bridge to transplantation or as permanent treatment.
The centre not only serves residents living on the island, but also receives tens of thousands of visitors every year, according to Assoc Prof Dr Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the HCM CIty Department of Health.
Not only does Vietnam attract international tourists with its landscapes, culture, and cuisine, but it is also gradually becoming a reliable destination for medical treatment, offering high-quality services at reasonable costs.
Over the past six months, 150 communal health stations in provinces including Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Ben Tre and Ca Mau have been equipped with information technology systems. In addition, 117 key provincial healthcare workers have received training, with thousands more expected to follow.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Ministry of Health swiftly launched a telemedicine programme, connecting more than 1,000 medical establishments nationwide. The model, which remains in operation, has benefited tens of thousands of patients, including foreign nationals.
After more than three weeks of intensive treatment, the patient's pneumonia improved, breathing stabilised, sedation was reduced, and the breathing tube was removed. He is now conscious, able to eat orally, and in recovery.
Acting Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long at the meeting (Photo: VNA) 
