Free hospitalisation for all is a breakthrough in Vietnam's health policy.

Soon realize the policy of free hospital treatment for all people

At the working session with representatives of the Government Party Committee and central ministries and branches to evaluate the implementation results of the Central Committee's resolutions on public health care and orientation for the coming time, General Secretary To Lam assigned the Government Party Committee to direct the research and development of a project with a roadmap to gradually reduce the burden of medical costs for people, moving towards free hospital fees for all people in the period from 2030-2035.

Regarding the orientation of some specific policies to be implemented immediately, the General Secretary concluded that it is consistent to implement the policy of periodic health check-ups for people at least once a year.

According to Notice 176-TB/VPTW dated April 25, 2025 of the Office of the Central Executive Committee, the General Secretary has concluded on the orientation of public health care. Accordingly, the Government Party Committee is assigned to direct the Party Committee of the Ministry of Health to preside over and coordinate with the Central Policy and Strategy Committee and relevant agencies to study and develop a Resolution of the Politburo to lead and direct to create a breakthrough in public health care, meeting the requirements of national development in the new era.

The Politburo's draft Resolution "on breakthroughs in people's health care, meeting the requirements of national development in the new era" sets the goal of striving to expand the right to health care by 2030, with 100% of medical examination and treatment costs covered within the scope of benefits, to move towards the goal of free hospital fees for people in the coming period.

Professor, Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, Chairman of the National Medical Council.

Discussing this content with Nhan Dan Newspaper reporters, Professor, Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, Chairman of the National Medical Council said that by the end of 2023, the Health Insurance Fund will have a surplus of 40,000 billion VND. This year, the Health Insurance Fund's surplus is expected to increase further. Currently, the health sector is orienting to amend the Health Insurance Law, to specify some contents towards free medical examination and treatment for people.

"It is expected that in the coming time, our country will amend the entire Law on Health Insurance, including many contents focusing on medical examination and treatment for people, especially medical examination and treatment to screen and detect early some dangerous diseases," said the Deputy Minister.

Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan said that the Ministry of Health is drafting a Resolution of the Politburo "on a breakthrough in public health care, meeting the requirements of national development in the new era", and will seek opinions from the Government Party Committee and relevant ministries and branches in the coming time.

Breakthrough in health policy

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Cong Hoang - National Assembly Delegate of Thai Nguyen Province, Director of Thai Nguyen Central Hospital expressed that the Party and State are moving towards a policy of 100% exemption of hospital fees for people, in order to reduce financial burden and create conditions for people, especially those in difficult circumstances, to easily access high-quality medical services. This is considered a breakthrough in Vietnam's health policy.

The free hospital policy will be implemented on a roadmap until 2035, starting from basic medical facilities and gradually expanding to specialized medical facilities. However, to meet this task, medical facilities must have sufficient facilities, equipment and human resources.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Cong Hoang. (Photo: THANH DAT)

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Cong Hoang, to implement the free hospital fee policy, financial resources from the state budget and health insurance fund are needed.

Therefore, he said, it is necessary to evaluate whether the current health insurance fund contribution level is appropriate or not, whether the fund is used reasonably or not, and whether the current hospital planning model is appropriate or not?

"When people are exempted from hospital fees, the relationship between doctors and patients will become better. Doctors will be like gentle mothers, helping people feel secure when coming to see a doctor without having to worry about finances," said delegate Nguyen Cong Hoang.

However, he also emphasized that although hospital fees are free, there will still be a system of high-quality, fee-based services for those who are better off and do not use health insurance.

Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tri, National Assembly Delegate of Hanoi City, member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society, shared that he is looking forward to and hopes that the policy of free hospital fees for all people will be implemented soon.

According to Professor Nguyen Anh Tri, Vietnam currently has quite sufficient conditions to implement this policy. Our economy has overcome the stage of poverty and is on the path of development. GDP and per capita income have both increased. People's and society's awareness of health has changed and people pay great attention to health care. The country's situation is stable, the legal system and policies are gradually changing in a more progressive direction; facilities and the level of science and technology in the medical field have also improved significantly.

In order for this policy to be implemented early and effectively, Professor Nguyen Anh Tri said that the State needs to support medical examination and treatment costs through health insurance. In addition, it is necessary to group the subjects for support.

Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tri, National Assembly Delegate of Hanoi City, member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society.

"Our top priority is people with serious illnesses, long-term treatment, and high costs. This can be done as early as 2026, without having to wait until 2030. Then there will be policies to support the poor, the disadvantaged, families with revolutionary contributions, children under 6 years old, the elderly... Just like that, we will gradually deploy tasks until 2030, then have a long-term plan until 2050.

Another important thing to implement this policy is to organize a good medical examination and treatment system, especially at the grassroots level," Professor Tri expressed.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/mien-vien-phi-toan-dan-la-buoc-dot-pha-trong-chinh-sach-y-te-cua-viet-nam-post880471.html