Politburo Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW lays the foundation for comprehensive reform of the national healthcare system to deliver quality, equitable and accessible healthcare for all.

Politburo Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW lays the foundation for comprehensive reform of the national healthcare system to deliver quality, equitable and accessible healthcare for all.

Four decades after the launch of Doi Moi (Renewal), Vietnam's healthcare system has had internationally recognized achievements. Today, an extensive healthcare network reaches major cities and remote and mountainous areas alike. Life expectancy has steadily increased, reaching 74.5 years in 2024, while maternal and child health indicators and disease control outcomes have continued to improve. Vietnam's hospitals now perform a wide range of advanced medical procedures, including multi-organ transplantation, robotic surgery, cardiovascular interventions and stem cell transplantation, and the production of several essential vaccines.

However, rapid socio-economic development has posed new challenges. Vietnam is among the world's fastest-aging societies while non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and mental health disorders have become increasingly prevalent. Overcrowding at major hospitals, disparities in healthcare quality between regions and the urgent requirement to accelerate digital transformation underscore the need for bold, breakthrough reforms.

A healthcare worker in Van Ho Commune, Son La Province, administers the rotavirus vaccine to a Hmong child under the National Expanded Program on Immunization. Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP

Ho Chi Minh City launches the Proactive Disease Prevention - For a Healthier Vietnam campaign to promote equitable, timely and sustainable access to quality healthcare services for all. Photo: VNA

In this context, Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW of September 9, 2025 sees innovative thinking as the foundation of healthcare reform. Rather than focusing primarily on treatment, the healthcare system will adopt a more people-centered approach that emphasizes preventive healthcare, physical fitness and early detection to reduce healthcare costs for both families and the state while improving people's overall quality of life.

General Secretary and State President To Lam has repeatedly stressed that healthcare should not merely focus on treatment, but give good care to reduce illness risks. He has called for a comprehensive public health strategy that strengthens preventive health, encourages healthy lifestyles and expands regular health checks for early detection of diseases, to increase life expectancy, improve quality of life and build a healthier, more productive workforce.

Doctors at FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City perform robot-assisted surgery using the Da Vinci Surgical System in multiple specialties, including lung cancer, mediastinal and thymus tumors, esophageal surgery, hepatobiliarypancreatic surgery and prostate surgery. Photo: VNA

 

A key point of Resolution No. 72 is promoting science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation in healthcare. Vietnam aims to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, the Internet of Things (IoT) and electronic health records to improve healthcare management, assist diagnosis and broaden access to quality medical services. Telemedicine will also be expanded, enabling people in remote, border and island areas to consult specialists at central hospitals without long-distance travel.

Producing vaccine at the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals.

Photo: Viet Cuong/VNP

 

Along with digital transformation, Vietnam is prioritizing investment in research and development for production of drugs, vaccines, biological products and medical equipment to strengthen self-reliance and national health security. These are expected to create an advanced, resilient healthcare system capable of tackling future challenges.

With a comprehensive reform agenda, Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW goes beyond modernizing the healthcare sector. It reflects Vietnam's long-term commitment to building a people-centered healthcare system in which every citizen has access to safe, equitable and quality medical services. This will lay a strong foundation for enhancing the nation's well-being and supporting sustainable socio-economic development in the future. 

Story: Thanh Hoa Photos: Viet Cuong/VNP & VNA