The Ministry of Health’s proposal suggests that medical students receive full tuition coverage and monthly living stipends, similar to the support currently provided to education students. Under the existing policy, education students receive free tuition and 3.63 million VND per month for living expenses.

Associate Professor Pham Van Manh, Vice Rector of Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, supports the proposal, emphasizing the financial barriers to entering the medical field.

He noted that gaining admission to medical school is challenging, and the extended duration and high costs of study deter many potential students.

“Medical students face a long and rigorous path. After six years of study, they must complete 12 months of internship and an additional 18-24 months of training before they can practice. For many students from low-income families, pursuing a medical career becomes impossible,” Manh explained.

Similarly, Associate Professor Le Thanh Tung, Chairman of the Council at Nam Dinh University of Nursing, highlighted the heavy academic workload and costly training requirements in medicine.

He pointed out that the expenses for equipment, clinical training, and practical materials make medical education among the most expensive fields.

“Without state support, the burden on students becomes unmanageable, especially in less attractive specialties like psychiatry, leprosy, or tuberculosis. If students are not incentivized to pursue these fields, the healthcare system will face severe personnel shortages in the future,” Tung emphasized.

He also noted that the autonomy granted to some universities has resulted in tuition fees reaching as high as 60–80 million VND annually. Tung argued that state support is essential to make medical education accessible and improve the quality of training.

Concerns about feasibility and fairness

On the other hand, Associate Professor Do Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the proposal.

While he acknowledged its noble intent to reduce financial pressure and attract talent, he warned of its potential impact on state budgets.

“Globally, there is a trend toward increasing social contributions to education rather than relying entirely on state funding. Medical training is among the most expensive, and without contributions from society, the financial burden on the state would be enormous,” Dung explained.

He also questioned the fairness of providing free tuition for medical students while other critical fields, such as information technology, engineering, or agriculture, remain unsupported despite facing significant labor shortages.

Additionally, Dung raised concerns about accountability. “Without clear regulations, graduates might not commit to working in the medical field, resulting in wasted resources. Instead of waiving tuition, funds could be used to enhance salaries and benefits for active healthcare workers or young doctors,” he suggested.

Dung proposed targeted scholarships for academically gifted students from disadvantaged backgrounds as a more practical alternative.

He noted that while many universities offer scholarships, the eligibility criteria are often stringent, deterring students from pursuing medical education without financial certainty.

“In addition to scholarships, universities could provide student loans tied to academic performance, ethics, and commitment to the profession. Reducing economic pressures in this way would enable students to focus on their studies and careers,” Dung concluded.

Thuy Nga