The National Assembly passed a Resolution on breakthrough mechanisms and policies to improve public health.

On the morning of December 11th, with a majority of delegates present voting in favor, the National Assembly passed a Resolution on a number of breakthrough mechanisms and policies for the protection, care, and improvement of people's health. The Resolution consists of 9 articles and will take effect from January 1st, 2026.

A panoramic view of the auditorium. Photo: Quang Vinh

Presenting a summary report on some major issues in explaining, receiving, and revising the draft Resolution, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan stated that the draft Resolution comprises three main policy groups: expanding healthcare benefits and reducing medical costs for the people; salary and allowance policies for healthcare workers; and solutions regarding land, taxes, and finance.

The policy groups have been researched, refined, and incorporated as much feedback from National Assembly deputies as possible by the drafting agency; at the same time, some contents have been further specified. Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW of the Politburo on some breakthrough solutions in protecting, caring for and improving the health of the people (Resolution No. 72)

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan presents a summary report on some major issues in the explanation of the revisions to the draft Resolution. Photo: Quang Vinh

Regarding the policy group on reducing healthcare costs for the people, Minister Dao Hong Lan informed that, in addition to revising to ensure the consistency and uniformity of the legal system with regulations related to periodic health check-ups or free screening, the draft Resolution has added regulations to increase the rate and level of payment for medical examination and treatment costs, health insurance, and costs for screening, diagnosis, and early treatment of certain diseases and priority groups such as: elderly people aged 75 and above receiving social retirement benefits, social policy beneficiaries, and vulnerable groups from the health insurance fund according to a roadmap consistent with the socio-economic development conditions of the country and the balancing capacity of the State budget.

"This is a groundbreaking regulation, creating an important legal framework for implementing the task of reducing healthcare costs for the people, as assigned to the Government and the health sector in Resolution No. 72," the Minister of Health affirmed.

The results of the vote on the National Assembly's Resolution on some breakthrough mechanisms and policies for the protection, care, and improvement of people's health. Photo: Quang Vinh.

Regarding the policy group on salaries and allowances for healthcare workers, the draft Resolution has clarified the scope of the policy, mainly applying to those working at commune-level health stations, preventive health facilities, and those working in the fields of psychiatry, forensic medicine, forensic psychiatry, resuscitation, and pathology.

The draft Resolution has added a provision stating that, from the date the Resolution takes effect, medical doctors, traditional medicine doctors, dentists, preventive medicine doctors, and pharmacists who have been recruited and are currently receiving a first-level salary will be moved to the second-level salary. This is a groundbreaking provision in salary policy, consistent with the training process of healthcare personnel and demonstrating the concern of the Party, the State, and the National Assembly for the healthcare sector.

Regarding land and tax policies, based on the opinions of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Culture and Social Affairs Committee, and the opinions of National Assembly deputies, the draft Resolution has added regulations on forms of attracting social resources in the health sector; and regulations allowing health facilities to decide on the level of allocation to supplementary income funds.

These are extremely important regulations, creating a legal framework for mobilizing and attracting resources for healthcare activities, as well as enabling public healthcare facilities to ensure a quality workforce to serve the care, protection, and improvement of public health.

Besides deepening the policy groups already submitted by the Government to the National Assembly, the draft Resolution also includes three additional policy groups: one on the safety of healthcare workers at medical facilities; another on recruitment in the healthcare sector when hiring civil servants at commune-level health stations to enhance the attraction of human resources to work at the grassroots level; and a policy group on digital transformation and international cooperation in the healthcare sector.

Viet Thang - Vu Manh

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/quoc-hoi-thong-qua-nghi-quyet-ve-cac-co-che-chinh-sach-dot-pha-nang-cao-suc-khoe-nhan-dan.html