Targeted Program on Health Care and Population: Towards improving the physical health, stature, longevity, and quality of life of the people.

The National Target Program on Healthcare, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 has a longer implementation period, up to 10 years, reflecting a commitment to longer-term investment to effectively meet healthcare needs...

As reported by Health and Life, the National Assembly has officially approved the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on the National Target Program on healthcare, population and development for the period 2026–2035 with an overwhelming majority of National Assembly deputies voting in favor.

To gain a better understanding of this Program, the Health and Life newspaper interviewed Associate Professor Phan Le Thu Hang - Deputy Head of the Planning and Finance Department ( Ministry of Health ), Secretary of the Steering Committee, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Drafting Board, and Head of the Editorial Team for the National Target Program.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan presented the report on the acceptance and revision of the draft resolution of the National Assembly on the National Target Program on health care, population and development for the period 2026–2035 at the session. Photo: Nhu Y

Six key points of the National Program on Healthcare – Population and Development for the period 2026-2035

- The National Program on Healthcare – Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 was launched in the context of healthcare facing many challenges in the new situation. Could you elaborate on this?

Associate Professor Phan Le Thu Hang: As we know, in recent times, healthcare systems worldwide have been facing unprecedented challenges to healthcare operations: geopolitical competition, trade wars, armed conflicts, energy crises, and climate change have directly affected human health, while also creating extremely negative impacts on the supply of healthcare products and services (due to fragmented or broken supply chains) and risking reversing the achievements of global cooperation thanks to globalization.

Alongside this, the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, the risk of emerging epidemics, the trend of an aging population, and soaring healthcare costs are becoming increasingly prevalent. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its far-reaching negative impacts, has, on the one hand, reversed many global health improvements, and on the other hand, revealed the fragility of healthcare systems (from developed countries to low- and middle-income countries).

Associate Professor Phan Le Thu Hang - Deputy Director of the Planning and Finance Department (Ministry of Health), Secretary of the Steering Committee, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Drafting Board, and Head of the Editorial Team for the National Target Program.

Along with global challenges, in Vietnam, challenges to healthcare are further complicated by the combination of internal factors, including more complex health issues (a dual disease pattern with a combination of traditional infectious and non-infectious diseases; a dual nutritional pattern with the simultaneous existence of malnutrition, overweight/obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies), a fragmented healthcare service delivery system heavily reliant on hospitals, the capacity of the primary healthcare network and preventive healthcare system lagging behind actual needs, while financial resources for healthcare remain modest.

- What are the key differences between the National Program on Healthcare – Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 and the National Target Program on Health – Population for the period 2016-2020, Madam?

Associate Professor Phan Le Thu Hang: In order to effectively respond to the changes (which are becoming increasingly rapid and complex) related to healthcare, population, and development in the new situation, the National Target Program on Healthcare, Population, and Development for the period 2026-2035 has been developed with many new points, and is considered to be quite different from the National Target Program on Health and Population for the period 2016-2020:

Firstly , regarding the program's scope: The National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 has a broader scope compared to the National Target Program on Health and Population for the period 2016-2020.

Accordingly, the previous priorities, which often focused on addressing a number of priority health issues (such as disease prevention and control; reducing the incidence and mortality rates of some dangerous infectious diseases; controlling the rate of increase of common non-communicable diseases, etc.) through purely medical interventions (mainly medical examination, treatment, and prevention), have been expanded to aim at improving the physical and mental health, stature, lifespan, and quality of life of the people through integrated interventions (prevention, medical examination and treatment, management, health promotion, social assistance, community support, etc.).

Similarly, priorities for population and development work have been broadened compared to before, with a focus on improving the quality of the population and adapting to the trend of population aging and the elderly population.

Furthermore, improving the quality of social care for vulnerable groups has for the first time been considered a priority (and developed as a component project) of a National Target Program in the health sector.

The National Target Program on Healthcare, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 focuses on improving the quality of the population and adapting to the trend of population aging and an elderly population.

Secondly , regarding mindset and approach: The National Target Program on Healthcare, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 clearly demonstrates a strong shift from a mindset focused on diagnosis and treatment to one that emphasizes proactive disease prevention, focusing on protecting, caring for, and improving overall health continuously throughout the life cycle.

In addition, the vertical intervention approach (characterized by a set of separate interventions targeting individual health problems) is being replaced by an approach that focuses on the core components of the health system (such as primary healthcare and preventive medicine) to enhance overall capacity.

Thirdly , regarding the program structure: Although the scope of the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 is much broader than the National Target Program on Health and Population for the period 2016-2020, the structure of the National Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 is considered more optimal, thanks to its integration.

Specifically, the National Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 includes only 5 component projects compared to 8 component projects of the National Target Program on Health and Population for the period 2016-2020.

Fourth , regarding the total funding for the program: The National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 has a much larger total funding than the National Target Program on Health and Population for the period 2016-2020.

The total capital invested in the first five years (2026-2030) of the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 is 88,635 billion VND, which is 4.5 times higher than the total capital invested in the National Target Program on Health and Population for the period 2016-2020.

Fifth , regarding the program's implementation time: The National Target Program on Healthcare, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 has a longer implementation period, up to 10 years, reflecting a longer-term investment commitment to effectively meet the requirements of healthcare, population and development in the new situation.

Sixth , regarding the program governance model: the principle of decentralization, delegation of authority, and enhancing the initiative and flexibility of localities are particularly emphasized in the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035. Accordingly, the National Assembly decides on the total budget for the program, the Prime Minister allocates the budget to ministries, central agencies and localities according to the total program capital, and the Provincial People's Council decides or delegates to the Commune People's Council to decide on the detailed allocation and adjustment of funds for program activities within the allocated total budget.

Screening and early detection of diseases are crucial for improving the quality of healthcare for the population.

Institutionalizing the orientation of Resolution No. 72 on people's health care in the new situation.

- Recently, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 72 NQ/TW on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care, and improvement of people's health, which identifies important strategic priorities for the work of protecting, caring for, and improving people's health in the new situation. Could you please tell us how the National Target Program on Health and Population for the period 2026-2035 reflects these priorities?

Associate Professor Phan Le Thu Hang: The National Target Program on Healthcare, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 has closely followed the strategic priority directions for protecting, caring for, and improving the health of the people in the new situation as defined in Resolution No. 72 NQ/TW. Specifically:

In terms of guiding principles, the priority is to improve the physical and mental health, stature, longevity, and quality of life of the people through integrated interventions (prevention, medical examination and treatment, management, health promotion, social assistance, community support, etc.) within the scope of the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035. This clearly reflects the viewpoints identified in Resolution No. 72 NQ/TW on the role of health and the position of the people in building and implementing policies to strengthen the protection, care, and improvement of people's health.

The design of the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 focuses on upgrading and innovating two crucial components of the national health system (primary healthcare and preventive healthcare), clearly reflecting the guiding principles of Resolution 72 NQ/TW, which requires a strong shift from a mindset focused on diagnosis and treatment to proactive disease prevention, emphasizing the protection, care, and improvement of comprehensive and continuous health throughout the life cycle.

Correctly defining the position and role of preventive medicine, primary healthcare, and traditional medicine; focusing on building, perfecting, and enhancing the capacity of preventive medicine and the primary healthcare system to ensure early, remote, and grassroots disease prevention, and readiness to respond to public health emergencies; prioritizing the comprehensive development and investment in human resources, facilities, and equipment for commune-level health stations to meet requirements and tasks.

Similarly, the core tasks and solutions of Resolution No. 72 NQ/TW (focusing on improving the capacity of primary healthcare and preventive medicine; developing high-quality healthcare human resources; the leading role of the state budget in ensuring finance and investment in infrastructure and medical equipment for primary healthcare, preventive medicine, and healthcare for priority groups; and emphasizing digital transformation) are also clearly reflected in the content of the National Target Program on Healthcare, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035.

The design of the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 focuses on upgrading and innovating two crucial components of the national health system (primary healthcare and preventive healthcare), clearly reflecting the guiding principles of Resolution 72 NQ/TW.

- Healthcare human resources have been identified as one of the bottlenecks negatively impacting the operation of the healthcare system, especially primary healthcare. However, why isn't a comprehensive project on healthcare human resource development included in the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035, Madam?

Associate Professor Phan Le Thu Hang: The National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 was not designed to address all issues related to the protection, care, and improvement of people's health, as well as population and development.

The program aims to support only the core, fundamental, and leverage-based elements to drive the momentum of continuous innovation in the healthcare system to effectively adapt to the challenges of the new situation.

Regarding the development of healthcare human resources, the National Target Program on Healthcare, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 selects the training of specialist doctors for primary healthcare (an intervention we previously lacked the resources to implement) to directly address the biggest bottleneck in primary healthcare: the shortage of high-quality human resources. This can be considered a breakthrough intervention that opens the door for localities to continue expanding.

For other forms and target groups of training, the Ministry of Health has considered and included them in other programs and projects such as the National Target Program for modernization and improvement of the quality of education and training in the period 2026-2035, the development of a high-quality medical workforce development plan, and the development plan for medical workforce for commune health stations…

Completing such a large volume of work within a short timeframe is unprecedented for the development of National Target Programs.

- Some argue that the proportion of mobilized capital in the total implementation of the Program is still quite modest. What is your opinion on this matter?

The National Target Program on Healthcare, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 has a longer implementation period, up to 10 years, reflecting a commitment to longer-term investment to effectively meet the requirements of healthcare, population and development in the new situation.

  Associate Professor Phan Le Thu Hang: Compared to some programs and projects in other fields, the proportion of mobilized capital to the total implemented capital of the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 is considered quite modest. This actually reflects the specific characteristics of the program, which focuses on improving the capacity and quality of the most essential health care services, prioritizing the most vulnerable groups in the most economically and socially disadvantaged areas.

First of all, we can see that ensuring the provision of the most essential healthcare services to the community, especially vulnerable communities in disadvantaged areas, is a legitimate duty and responsibility of the State, and the State will fulfill this responsibility, from a financial perspective, through public spending.

Furthermore, from a market perspective, primary healthcare services are generally considered less attractive in terms of profitability, thus limiting the scope for attracting non-state investment.

However, the Ministry of Health is still actively working with development partners, non-governmental organizations, and potential private sector partners to seek opportunities for cooperation and mobilize additional resources for the implementation of the Program.

- During the process of developing the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035, did the Ministry of Health encounter any difficulties, Madam?

Associate Professor Phan Le Thu Hang: It can be said that the Ministry of Health faced many difficulties in the process of developing the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035.

Firstly , from a technical standpoint, to respond to the rapid changes (globally, regionally, and nationally) related to healthcare, the approach needs to shift from the traditional method (focusing on vertical interventions to address individual priority health issues) to focusing on core components of the health system to enhance overall capacity to respond to new challenges, creating significant challenges for technical expert groups developing the program.

Secondly , because this is a long-term investment program (with an implementation period of up to 10 years), determining priorities, establishing a system of goals/targets, developing an implementation roadmap, estimating implementation costs, etc., is much more complex than with short- and medium-term programs/projects.

Thirdly , the program development process took place during a period of significant changes in the national governance model (mergers of ministries and departments; mergers of communes; mergers of provinces; elimination of district-level organizations, etc.), which made field assessments and investment needs assessment very difficult.

The healthcare sector is striving to meet the growing demand for healthcare services from the public.

In particular, the National Target Program on Healthcare, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 was developed under very heavy time pressure, while the demands for quality are increasingly higher.

In fact, the process of developing the new program began in March 2025, meaning the entire process of developing, evaluating, and approving the program will be completed within 9 months. This is considered an unprecedentedly short timeframe for developing National Target Programs.

However, with the decisive direction of the Party, Government, and National Assembly leaders; the determination of the Ministry of Health; the active coordination and support of ministries, agencies, and localities; and the high efforts of the technical expert groups involved in developing the Program, the process of developing, evaluating, and approving the Program has been completed, creating conditions for its early implementation in the first months of 2026.

- We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Associate Professor Phan Lê Thu Hằng!

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/chuong-program-muc-tieu-cham-care-health-people-oriented-to-improving-physical-mindset-childhood-and-quality-of-life-of-people-169251213143505142.htm