Population work in the new context: Encouraging couples to have two children.

The central focus of population work in 2026 and subsequent years is to encourage couples to have two children, launching a campaign with the message "patriotism means having two children".

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen delivered a speech.

On the morning of December 17th, the Ministry of Health - the standing agency of the National Steering Committee on Population and Development - organized a rally to commemorate Vietnam Population Day (December 26th) and a conference to summarize population work in 2025 and implement key tasks for 2026.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen emphasized that in 2025, population work will continue to receive special attention from the Party and the State with many important policies and guidelines being issued.

The Politburo , the Government, and the National Assembly have adopted resolutions and action programs to concretize the strategic orientation on population and development, and people's health care for the period 2026–2035, creating an important foundation for improving the quality of the population and serving sustainable socio-economic development.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen, in recent years, population work has achieved many positive results, contributing to improving the quality of life for the people. However, practical challenges remain, most notably the disparity in birth rates between regions, the persistent low birth rate in urban areas and industrial zones, while some mountainous areas and ethnic minority regions still have high birth rates, and the problems of child marriage and consanguineous marriage have not been completely eradicated.

Recently, the National Assembly passed the Population Law, marking an important milestone in shifting the focus from family planning to population and development.

According to a report by the Population Department (Ministry of Health), in 2024, the average fertility rate per woman is currently 1.93 children, a slight increase compared to 1.91 children - the lowest level in history, but still lower than the replacement fertility rate of 2.1 children.

In addition, out of 11 population targets for 2025, 5 have not yet been achieved, including: total fertility rate; reduction of the sex ratio at birth; adjustment of birth rate; percentage of newborns screened for 5 congenital diseases (hypothyroidism, G6PD deficiency, adrenal hyperplasia, hearing impairment, congenital heart disease); and percentage of elderly people receiving at least one annual health check-up.

Mr. Le Thanh Dung, Director of the Population Department, stated that the central focus of population work in 2026 and subsequent years is to encourage couples to have two children, launching a campaign with the message "patriotism means having two children".

In addition, one of the incentive policies mentioned is housing opportunities. According to the regulations in the Population Law, which will take effect from July 1, 2026, the Ministry of Health will develop and submit to the competent authority a policy stipulating that couples who have two children will be able to purchase social housing.

To meet the requirements and tasks of population work in the coming period, on behalf of the Ministry of Health leadership, Deputy Minister Do Xuan Tuyen proposed: Party committees, government agencies, and mass organizations at all levels should continue to thoroughly and fully understand the content of the Population Law, Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017, of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on population work in the new situation, and Conclusion 149-KL/TW dated April 10, 2025, of the Politburo on promoting the implementation of Resolution 21-NQ/TW on population work.

Overview of the conference.

Ministries, sectors, members of the National Steering Committee, and People's Committees of provinces and cities should continue to pay attention to directing and leading, ensuring resources for population work under the conditions of implementing a two-tiered local government; and organize the implementation of mechanisms and policies of the Population Law and the Targeted Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035.

Provincial and city health departments are advised to continue strengthening and stabilizing the organizational structure, improving the capacity and professional qualifications of population work staff from the provincial to the grassroots level, ensuring they are strong enough to carry out assigned tasks.

The Deputy Minister also requested that international organizations, agencies, and organizations continue to share and support financial resources to help address limitations and difficulties in population work, ensuring sustainable development of the country and the happiness of each individual and family.

THIEN LAM

Source: https://nhandan.vn/cong-tac-dan-so-trong-tinh-hinh-moi-van-dong-cac-cap-vo-chong-sinh-du-2-con-post930837.html