Breakthrough opportunities for primary health care

Information about Resolution 72 quickly spread, bringing joy and hope to many patients. In the photo: Doctor of Internal Medicine, Binh Phuoc General Hospital checks the dialysis machine for a patient. Photo: Xuan Tuc

However, with the position of a province with the top economic scale, population and area in the country, Dong Nai is focusing on solutions, taking advantage of all investment resources in the health sector to develop commensurately; aiming at the role of a solid pillar of social security, ensuring health security, and at the same time being a special service sector contributing to the economic growth of the province.

"Major surgery" from the grassroots

Located in a remote area, with nearly 20% of the population being ethnic minorities, thanks to investment in both facilities and human resources, Loc Quang Commune Health Station is known as a bright spot in people's health care.

Specialist Doctor I Tran Van Thi, Head of Loc Quang Commune Health Station, said: Due to the difficult terrain and difficult life of the people, taking children to the health station for vaccination is a concern for many families. Faced with this situation, in 2024, the station boldly deployed a mobile vaccination model in hamlets with a high proportion of ethnic minorities, with low vaccination rates for children every year. After more than a year of implementation, the situation has rapidly improved, to date the rate of full vaccination for children of ethnic minorities in the commune has increased from 50% to 70%, striving to reach 80% by the end of 2025.

In our country today, health insurance covers 94% of the population, including many groups of freelance workers, near-poor workers, and people in disadvantaged areas who do not have the conditions to participate in health insurance. Therefore, if we exempt hospital fees and provide annual health check-ups for all people according to Resolution 72, it will help reduce financial burden and create conditions for people, especially those in difficult circumstances, to easily access high-quality health services.

Currently, Dong Nai province has 22 regional health centers, 95 commune and ward health stations and 176 stations. The widespread network of health facilities has contributed to meeting the primary health care needs of the people.

Comrade Le Truong Son, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said: The investment of resources to upgrade the grassroots health system in recent times has received special attention from the provincial leaders. In the period of 2020-2025 alone, in the province, 30 new health stations were invested in, 43 health stations were repaired and upgraded with full accompanying equipment. Of which, the Ministry of Health and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) supported the province to build 20 new health stations; repair and renovate 25 health stations with full accompanying equipment. Thereby, contributing to improving the quality of medical examination and treatment at the grassroots health level.

This work is in line with the orientation in Resolution 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025 of the Politburo on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of people's health (Resolution 72). At the Conference to summarize the investment program for developing the grassroots health network in disadvantaged areas recently held in Dong Nai, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said: Grassroots health is the foundation of the national health system, and needs to be given comprehensive investment in facilities, equipment and human resources.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen, Resolution No. 72 offers many breakthrough solutions, emphasizing comprehensive investment in the grassroots health system; reorganizing the health system according to the 2-level local government model. In the immediate future, in the period of 2025-2030, each year localities will rotate and mobilize at least 1,000 doctors to work for a limited time at commune health stations, supplementing regular doctors at health stations. 100% of commune-level health stations will be invested in facilities, medical equipment, and human resources according to their functions and tasks. By 2027, each commune health station will have at least 4-5 doctors.

Bring the resolution into life soon

The breakthrough of Resolution 72 also lies in the work of providing lifelong health care and financial security for the people. From 2026, all people will be provided with free periodic health check-ups at least once a year, moving towards free basic hospital fees by 2030. This is not only a humane reform but also helps reduce the load on upper-level hospitals and encourages people to get early medical examinations and timely treatment.

At hospitals, information about Resolution 72 quickly spread, bringing joy and hope to many patients, especially those in difficult circumstances.

Nearly 5 years of dialysis have taken away from Ms. Trinh Thi Thu (residing in Hamlet 3, Dong Tam Commune, Dong Nai Province) time, money and health. When hearing the news that in the near future, all people will be able to have regular health check-ups or free screenings at least once a year, and in the future, they will be exempted from basic hospital fees within the scope of health insurance benefits according to the roadmap, Ms. Thu expressed her joy, because it is not only a policy but also a consolation and encouragement for her to continue fighting the disease.

“Dialysis is very expensive. Out of 30 days in a month, I have to eat hospital meals for 12 days, leaving no time for work. I hope Resolution 72 will soon come into effect to reduce the financial pressure on my family,” Thu hopes.

Dr. Le Van Trung, Department of Internal Medicine, Binh Phuoc General Hospital said: There have been many cases where the disease has become serious when they are admitted to the hospital for treatment, partly because people are subjective and partly because they are afraid of the cost. Therefore, what I appreciate most about Resolution 72 is that all people have the opportunity to access basic health services through free periodic health check-ups. This is extremely important, because periodic health check-ups will promptly detect diseases early so that prevention and treatment methods can be found, both protecting health and reducing treatment costs.

From the plains to the mountains, from large hospitals to commune health stations, people's belief in a fair and sustainable healthcare system is gradually taking shape. Dong Nai, with its determination to invest in infrastructure and the Central Government's breakthrough policies, is seizing the opportunity to become a bright spot in universal healthcare, contributing to bringing healthcare services to a new level - where every citizen is protected, treated and accompanied for life.

Xuan Tuc

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202510/co-hoi-but-pha-cho-y-te-co-so-e026cdd/