What support will pregnant women and newborns receive starting January 1, 2027?

Pregnant women will undergo examinations and prenatal screening for four basic diseases, according to Decree No. 168/2026/ND-CP effective from July 1, 2026.

According to Decree 168/2026, female workers giving birth to a second child, and male workers whose wives give birth to a second child, are eligible for maternity benefits as stipulated by the law on social insurance and are entitled to maternity leave for the birth of a second child as prescribed in point a, clause 1, article 14 of the Population Law in the following cases: female workers giving birth when at the time of birth, there is one live child; male workers whose wives give birth when at the time of birth, there is one live child.

The procedure for claiming maternity leave benefits for the birth of a second child is carried out in accordance with the law on social insurance. The person making the declaration is fully responsible before the law for the accuracy and truthfulness of the information provided in the application for benefits as stipulated above.

From 2027, in provinces and cities with low birth rates, women giving birth will receive a subsidy of 2 million VND.

PHOTO: PHUONG AN

Financial support levels for childbirth

Decree 168/2026 stipulates a minimum financial support of 2 million VND per woman giving birth in the following cases:

a. There are very few women from ethnic minority groups.

b. Women in provinces and cities with fertility rates below the replacement level.

c. Women who have given birth to two children before the age of 35.

Women who give birth and simultaneously fall under cases a, b, and c above are entitled to a certain level of support.

Regarding the procedure for providing financial support for childbirth, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, ward, or special administrative region (collectively referred to as the People's Committee at the commune level) shall, based on information from the interconnected birth registration procedure system, the national population database, the national identification application (VNeID), and other available databases, decide on and disburse financial support to women giving birth according to the regulations at the same time as the birth registration.

The above regulations will take effect from July 1, 2026. However, the provisions in points b and c will take effect from January 1, 2027. Financial support will be provided by the local budget.

Prenatal screening for 4 basic diseases

Decree 168/2026 also specifies the scope and subjects for screening for certain congenital diseases before and after birth.

Accordingly, pregnant women undergo examinations and prenatal screenings for four basic conditions: Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, and Thalassemia (congenital hemolytic anemia).

Newborns are examined and screened for five basic conditions: congenital hypothyroidism, G6PD deficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, congenital hearing loss, and severe congenital heart defects (newborn screening service package).

Financial support for prenatal screening for congenital diseases is reimbursed based on actual costs, but not exceeding VND 900,000 per case; and for neonatal screening for congenital diseases, it is reimbursed based on actual costs, but not exceeding VND 600,000 per case. If the competent authority approves the service package price, the financial support will be based on the approved price.

The above support is paid directly to the healthcare facility that collects the samples and the healthcare facility that performs the screening techniques.

Priority roadmap: From July 1st to December 31st, 2026, pregnant women and newborns from poor households, near-poor households, and those receiving social welfare; and people in particularly disadvantaged villages, communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, border regions, and islands will receive free screening services and screening support from the state budget.

From January 1, 2027, all pregnant women and newborns will receive support for screening services and screening subsidies from the state budget under the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035, until the list of diseases for prenatal and newborn screening is officially stipulated by competent authorities in the list of diseases covered by health insurance according to the roadmap for increasing health insurance contributions and the ability to balance the health insurance fund.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phu-nu-mang-thai-va-tre-so-sinh-duoc-ho-tro-gi-tu-112027-185260522175809436.htm