Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan provides information on the implementation of the policy of free medical examination and treatment fees for all citizens – Photo: VGP
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Previously, on April 8, at a meeting with officers of the agency that supported the southern battlefield during the anti-American salvation war, General Secretary To Lam affirmed that he would focus on developing healthcare and taking care of people’s health, towards free medical examination and treatment fees for the people.
“The direction of the General Secretary is not only a long-term strategic orientation but also a goal that the entire health sector is determined to achieve. This policy touches the hearts of millions of people”, said Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan.
According to him, free medical examination and treatment fees will create a strong shift in accessing health services, helping people to proactively prevent and treat diseases, improving the effectiveness of health care, optimizing health financial resources, and reducing financial burdens. This policy also contributes to poverty reduction, increases labor productivity, GDP growth, and promotes social equality.
In particular, priority is given to ethnic minority areas and remote areas to reduce the gap in access to healthcare between regions and social classes.
For the period of 2026-2030, the health sector sets a target of 90% of the population having full access to disease prevention and primary health care services, and 100% of the people having periodic health checkups at least once a year. With a population of 100 million and an examination cost of about VND 250,000/time, the budget needs to allocate about VND 25,000 billion each year for this program.
People will be given electronic health books to comprehensively manage their health throughout their lives, live in a green, clean, safe food environment, and be ensured a reasonable diet. Vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities will also receive more adequate medical care and social support.
The state budget will increase support for buying health insurance cards, striving for 100% of the population to participate in health insurance. At the same time, the Ministry of Health is expanding the scope of insurance benefits, towards payment for preventive services, screening, and early treatment of diseases. The goal is to reduce the rate of payment by the people to below 20% of total health expenditure and co-payment for health insurance to below 10%.
From now until 2045, the health system will be comprehensively upgraded to meet the requirements of protecting, caring for, and improving the health of the people, towards not having to pay extra for health insurance when going to the hospital. Vietnam strives to become one of the leading countries in the world in terms of social security assurance in the health field.
The Ministry of Health is developing a draft report to the Government and submitting it to the Politburo for the issuance of a resolution on breakthroughs in health care for the people, meeting the requirements of national development in the new era. At the same time, the Ministry is also completing a draft decree guiding the Law on Health Insurance to be promulgated from July 1, 2025, clearly defining the level of support from the State, entitlements, and scope of health insurance of each group of subjects.
In addition, new circulars are being drafted to regulate the list, rate, and level of payment for medical technical services, drugs, and medical equipment for people with health insurance, towards increasing payment and free of charge for policy beneficiaries.
From 2026-2030, the Ministry of Health will study to expand the benefits of the basic health service package to 20-30% of the salary base (currently 15%), apply pilot periodic examinations, screening for diseases according to age and occupation. The level of health insurance entitlement will be increased to 100% for the group that is currently entitled to 95%, and there will be a roadmap for increasing the group that is currently entitled to 80%.
At the same time, the Ministry will study the expansion of medical service payment for the poor, near-poor, people with a medium standard of living, and some groups of diseases. The component funds of health insurance will be redesigned, including the fund for examination and treatment, the reserve fund, and the fund to support critical illnesses.
To improve efficiency, avoid overlap and waste, health insurance will be linked to the National Target Program on Health Care, Population, and Development for the period of 2026-2035. At the same time, strictly control the situation of abuse and profiteering of the policy of free medical examination and treatment, preventing hospital overload.
In the period of 2030-2035, the Ministry of Health will study to comprehensively amend the Law on Health Insurance to realize the free health care for the people in a sustainable, stable, and long-term manner. Currently, the Law on Health Insurance has not yet regulated the payment for examination and early screening services.
“The two orientations given by the General Secretary – periodic health check-ups every year and free medical examination and treatment fees for all citizens – are not only health goals but also convey a clear message: Policies must originate from people, for people, for a sustainable developing Vietnam”, emphasized Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan. He said that this is not impossible if there is strong political determination, social consensus, and a clear and methodical roadmap.
– 17:55 05/06/2025
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