Politburo: From 2026, people will have free periodic health check-ups, gradually exempting basic hospital fees

Bộ Chính trị - Ảnh 1. — General Secretary To Lam - Photo: GIA HAN

General Secretary To Lam signed and issued Resolution 72 of the Politburo on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of people's health.

By 2030, people will be exempt from basic hospital fees.

The resolution clearly states the 2030 goals for improving people's physical strength, mental strength, stature and healthy life expectancy.

By 2030, increase the average height of children and adolescents from 1 to 18 years old by at least 1.5cm; average life expectancy reaches 75.5 years, of which the number of healthy years reaches at least 68 years.

Reduce the burden of disease and control risk factors affecting health. Vaccination coverage of vaccines in the essential immunization program is over 95%.

The proportion of people regularly participating in physical activities increased by 10%. Strengthening control of risk factors affecting health such as alcohol, beer, tobacco and the environment from soil, water and air.

People have access to quality health services, aiming for comprehensive health care. From 2026, people will have regular health check-ups or free screenings at least once a year, and will have an electronic health record to manage their health over their lifetime, gradually reducing the burden of medical costs.

By 2030, people will be exempt from basic hospital fees within the scope of health insurance benefits according to the roadmap.

100% of commune-level health stations are invested in facilities, medical equipment, and human resources according to their functions and tasks; by 2027, there will be at least 4-5 doctors/station.

Increase the rate of health insurance examination and treatment at commune-level health stations to over 20%.

By 2026, health insurance coverage will reach over 95% of the population, and by 2030, universal health insurance coverage will be achieved; various types of health insurance will be developed.

By 2045, strive for a good quality living environment, people's health indicators, and essential health care coverage index on par with developed countries in the region and the world.

People have an average life expectancy of over 80 years, of which the number of healthy years increased to over 71 years.

The average stature, physical strength, and height of young people are comparable to those of countries with similar levels of development. The healthcare system is modern, equitable, effective, and sustainable, with disease prevention as the top priority, meeting the increasingly high and diverse healthcare needs of the people.

'Special treatment' policies for doctors and medical staff

The Politburo's Resolution clearly states 6 groups of tasks and solutions. It unanimously chooses World Health Day, April 7, every year as the National Health Day.

Continue to arrange and transfer a number of hospitals under the Ministry of Health to provincial management. During the period 2025 - 2030, each year localities will rotate, transfer, and mobilize at least 1,000 doctors to work for a limited time at commune-level health stations.

Add permanent doctors to commune-level health stations, so that by 2030 there will be enough doctors according to their functions and tasks... Develop specialized healthcare to meet practical requirements and international integration. Each province and city has at least 1 specialized hospital...

The resolution also requires implementing preferential policies commensurate with the view that medicine is a special profession that must be trained, employed and treated specially.

Doctors, preventive medicine doctors, pharmacists are ranked from level 2 of the recruited professional title. Implement special and outstanding preferential policies for medical staff directly working in the field at commune health stations and preventive medicine facilities.

Increase the preferential occupational allowance to at least 70% for those who regularly and directly work as medical professionals at commune-level health stations and preventive health facilities.

100% for people who regularly and directly work in medical profession at commune-level health stations, preventive medical facilities in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, areas with difficult or especially difficult socio-economic conditions, border areas, islands, the fields of psychiatry, forensic medicine, forensic psychiatry, emergency resuscitation, pathology and some other special subjects suitable to economic and social development conditions.

Along with that, we especially encourage the development of large-scale private hospitals with specialized technical levels on par with those of developed countries... Corporate income tax is not applied to public and private medical facilities operating not for profit...

The Resolution clearly states the tasks and solutions to implement periodic health check-ups or free screening for people at least once a year according to priority groups and roadmaps.

From 2026, the organization will coordinate between periodic health check-ups, free screening, health check-ups for students, occupational disease check-ups, health check-ups for workers according to regulations and health insurance examination and treatment to provide free medical examinations and complete the creation of electronic health books for all people.

There are appropriate support policies for the cost of emergency transportation to and from hospitals for a number of social policy beneficiaries.

Along with that, gradually implement the policy of exempting hospital fees , first of all for social policy groups, the disadvantaged, low-income people and those in need of other priorities within the scope of health insurance benefits according to the roadmap.

From 2026, gradually increase the rate, payment level, and expenditure for disease prevention, diagnosis, and early treatment of a number of diseases and priority groups according to the roadmap from the health insurance fund to reduce the financial burden on patients, in accordance with the increase in health insurance contributions as prescribed by law from 2027.

The state budget and health insurance fund pay for a number of disease prevention services, chronic disease management, periodic health check-ups and screening examinations according to professional requirements at the initial and basic medical examination and treatment levels according to appropriate roadmaps...

THANH CHUNG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bo-chinh-tri-tu-2026-nguoi-dan-duoc-kham-suc-khoe-dinh-ky-mien-phi-tung-buoc-mien-vien-phi-co-ban-20250911204728141.htm