The policy of free hospitalisation for all people touches the hearts of millions of people

Expected to spend 25,000 billion VND/year on universal health check-up

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan answered at the Government press conference on the afternoon of May 6. Photo: Dinh Hiep

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said that General Secretary To Lam's direction on moving towards free hospital fees for people is not only a long-term strategic orientation but also a goal that the entire health sector is determined to implement. This is a policy that touches the hearts of millions of people.

The implementation of this policy will have a positive impact, reducing the financial burden on people, helping people proactively access medical services, detect and treat diseases early, and increase treatment effectiveness...

In terms of orientation, from 2026-2030, about 90% of people will have full access to disease prevention services, health promotion, full vaccination according to age, subjects, primary health care, reproductive health, maternal health, children's health, mental health, school health, health risk screening, periodic health check-ups, chronic disease management...

“At the same time, 100% of people receive regular health check-ups at least once a year. We estimate that with 100 million people and the cost of each health check-up being about 250,000 VND/person, we will spend about 25,000 billion VND/year,” Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan shared.

People are given electronic health records.

Minister, Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Government Spokesperson answers questions at the regular Government press conference. Photo: Nhat Bac

According to Mr. Tran Van Thuan, people are given electronic health books to manage their health; the elderly, the disabled, and the disadvantaged are cared for and provided with social care... At the same time, the state budget increases support for purchasing health insurance cards, striving for 100% of the population to have health insurance. In addition, the scope of health insurance benefits is expanded and payment for preventive services, screening, early diagnosis and early treatment of diseases is gradually reduced to below 20% by the people, and the co-payment rate for health insurance examination and treatment costs is below 10%.

Under the direction of General Secretary To Lam, the Ministry of Health is drafting a report to the Government and submitting it to the Politburo for promulgation of a Resolution on breakthroughs in public health care, meeting the requirements of national development in the new era, which proposes many solutions for public health care, moving towards free hospital fees for all people...

At the same time, the Ministry of Health is developing to issue circulars stipulating the list, rates, levels and conditions of payment for medical technical services, drugs and medical equipment within the scope of benefits of health insurance participants, including regulations to increase the rates and levels of payment for some drugs and medical equipment in the direction of free of charge for some subjects, especially policy subjects.

Regarding the implementation roadmap, from 2026 to 2030, research and submit to the Government for promulgation a Decree guiding the pilot implementation of a number of policies such as expanding the benefits of the basic health service package to increase to 20-30% of the basic salary (currently 15%)...

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said that the two orientations put forward by the General Secretary, including providing medical examinations to people once a year and exempting hospital fees for all people, are not only health goals but also send a profound message that: Policies must originate from people, for people, for a sustainable Vietnam.

Therefore, regular health check-ups for people are not too far-fetched if we have strong enough political determination, broad social consensus and a clear, methodical implementation roadmap.

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/chinh-sach-mien-vien-phi-toan-dan-cham-den-trai-tim-hang-trieu-nguoi-211329.html