Protecting, caring for and improving people's health is a top political task.

Continuing the National Conference to disseminate and implement Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW, Resolution No. 70-NQ/TW, Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW, Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW of the Politburo , on the morning of September 16, in Hanoi, Party Central Committee member, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long informed about Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025 of the Politburo on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of people's health.

Aiming to build a healthy Vietnam

Providing information on the Party and State's policies and guidelines on protecting, caring for and improving people's health, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the documents, Resolutions of the Party Congress, Resolutions of the Politburo, Conclusions and Directives of the Secretariat clearly demonstrate the policies and goals in caring for, protecting and improving people's health.

The policies, goals, tasks and solutions are all aimed at improving the physical and mental health, stature, longevity and quality of life of the people; building a fair, high-quality, effective and internationally integrated health care system; aiming at health care coverage and ensuring access to services for all people. The role and position of health care are increasingly valued in the socio -economic policy system.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that with the special attention of the Party and State, in recent years, the work of protecting, caring for and improving people's health has achieved many important achievements; however, there are still limitations, inadequacies, difficulties and challenges.

Faced with urgent practical requirements, the work of protecting, caring for and improving people's health needs to be strongly changed in awareness and action; at the same time, comprehensive innovation with breakthrough solutions to aim at building a healthy Vietnam, where all people receive health care, live long, live healthy, live healthily, improve physical fitness, awareness of health protection and proactive disease prevention in the whole society, contributing significantly to promoting the development of a rich, civilized and prosperous country in the new era.

"Up to now, there have been many resolutions of the Central Committee, documents of the Politburo, the Secretariat, and Action Programs related to the protection, care, and improvement of people's health. Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW is a component part and continues to inherit the Party's viewpoints on the protection, care, and improvement of people's health; it is a Resolution of strategic, comprehensive, immediate and long-term significance with high action, demonstrating the special attention and drastic direction of the Party and State on the work of protecting, caring for, and improving people's health in the new era of development," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

Hospital payment area of Binh Phuoc General Hospital, Dong Nai province. (Photo: Dau Tat Thanh/VNA)

Informing about the five guiding viewpoints of Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the goal by 2030 is to improve the physical strength, intelligence, stature and healthy life expectancy of the people. By 2030, the average height of children and adolescents aged 1-18 will increase by at least 1.5 cm; the average life expectancy will reach 75.5 years, of which the number of healthy years will reach at least 68 years.

Reduce the burden of disease and control risk factors affecting health. Vaccination coverage in the Expanded Immunization Program reaches over 95%. The proportion of people regularly participating in physical activities increases by 10%.

Strengthening control of risk factors affecting health such as alcohol, beer, tobacco and the environment from soil, water, air... People have access to quality medical services, aiming for comprehensive health care. From 2026, people will have regular health check-ups or free screening at least once a year, and will have an electronic health book to manage health over the life cycle, gradually reducing the burden of medical costs.

By 2030, people will be exempted from basic hospital fees within the scope of health insurance benefits according to the roadmap. 100% of commune-level health stations will be invested in facilities, medical equipment, and human resources according to their functions and tasks; by 2027, there will be at least 4-5 doctors. Increase the rate of medical examination and treatment covered by health insurance at commune-level health stations to over 20%. By 2026, the health insurance coverage rate will reach over 95% of the population, by 2030, universal health insurance coverage will be achieved; develop various types of health insurance.

Vision to 2045, strive for a living environment with good quality; people's health indicators, essential health care coverage index on par with developed countries in the region and the world. People have an average life expectancy of over 80 years old, of which the number of healthy years has increased to over 71 years old, the average stature, physical strength, and height of young people are equivalent to countries with the same level of development. The health system is modern, equitable, effective, sustainable, with disease prevention as the top priority, meeting the increasingly high and diverse health care needs of the people.

Strong innovation in thinking and action

Regarding the 6 groups of tasks and solutions set out in Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the need to strongly innovate thinking and action in leadership, direction, and implementation in the health sector. In particular, unifying awareness and action. Integrating and prioritizing health indicators in strategies, planning, plans, and socio-economic development policies.

Raise awareness, proactively practice, protect and improve health. Select World Health Day on April 7 every year as "National Health Day." Strengthen propaganda, education, consultation, and dissemination of knowledge. Strongly innovate the management thinking of the health sector.

In addition, promptly complete the institution, focus on improving the capacity of the health system, especially preventive medicine, primary health care, promote the strengths of traditional medicine. In particular, complete the synchronous institution and effectively implement the legal regulations on health. Arrange the health system to be streamlined and effective, ensure the connection between professional levels.

Improve the capacity of the preventive health system, especially the system of testing, inspection and control of factors affecting health. Improve the functions, tasks and organizational structure of commune-level health stations. Develop specialized health care; promote links between hospitals, research institutes, training facilities and businesses. Strengthen the combination of military and civilian health care and public security health. Promote the potential and strengths of traditional medicine.

Improve medical ethics, develop quality and synchronous medical human resources, meet patient satisfaction and international integration. In particular, comprehensively innovate the style, spirit and attitude of serving the people and patients. Prioritize the arrangement and mobilization of resources, have outstanding policies and mechanisms to develop medical human resources.

Implement preferential policies commensurate with the medical profession. Strengthen international cooperation and integration in health. Promote health financial reform and develop effective and sustainable health insurance policies. In which, the state budget ensures expenditure tasks that meet basic and essential requirements and play a leading role.

Prioritize and ensure the annual increase in state budget expenditure for health. Implement free periodic health check-ups at least once a year. Exempt basic hospital fees within the scope of health insurance. Improve management efficiency and sustainable use of the Health Insurance Fund. Proactively prevent and combat epidemics, respond to emergency health events, and ensure health security.

Breakthrough in science and technology development, innovation and comprehensive digital transformation in health care. In particular, strongly promote comprehensive digital transformation in health care. Prioritize investment to implement breakthrough solutions in science and technology development and innovation in the health sector. Focus on developing the pharmaceutical industry and medical equipment, ensuring self-sufficiency in vaccines, drugs and medical equipment.

At the same time, promote the development of private health care, mobilize and effectively use all resources for health development. In particular, strongly promote the participation of the private economic sector, mobilize social resources. Encourage and facilitate private investment activities and public-private partnerships in the health sector.

Resolutely and effectively implement assigned tasks and solutions

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Government's Action Plan has identified specific tasks for ministries, branches and localities to develop action plans, organize implementation, inspect, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Resolution; and propose 6 groups of main tasks and solutions.

Specifically, all levels, sectors and localities must immediately issue the Plan to implement Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW and the Government's Action Plan in November 2025. Ministers, heads of central agencies, Secretaries of provincial and municipal Party Committees, Chairmen of People's Committees of centrally-run provinces and cities, leaders of party committees and authorities at all levels must focus on directing the dissemination, drastic and effective implementation of assigned tasks and solutions; strengthen urging, inspection and supervision; and periodically report results.

All levels, sectors and localities shall promote information and propaganda work, organize emulation movements and strictly and promptly implement the reward and discipline regime in implementing Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW and the Government's Action Plan.

Regarding implementation, the Politburo assigned specific tasks to the National Assembly Party Committee, the Government Party Committee, the Central Party Committees, the Party Committees of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies directly under the Government, the provincial Party Committees, the city Party Committees, the Central Party Committees, the Fatherland Front Party Committee, and the central mass organizations in implementing Resolution 72-NQ/TW.

Regarding resources to implement tasks such as allowances, career incentives; costs of periodic health check-ups, screening; and hospital fee exemption policy, the Deputy Prime Minister said: "The Ministry of Health and the Government have calculated the funding sources, which are likely to be balanced and feasible" in the coming time./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/bao-ve-cham-soc-va-nang-cao-suc-khoe-nhan-dan-la-nhiem-vu-chinh-tri-hang-dau-post1062076.vnp