The Ministry of Health announced on December 24 that it has submitted a proposal to the government for the reorganization of hospitals under its jurisdiction, aiming to reduce the number of central-level hospitals by transferring four facilities to local or sectoral management.

Under the plan, the 74 Central Hospital will be transferred to the People’s Committee of Vinh Phuc Province.

The 71 Central Hospital and the Central Nursing and Rehabilitation Hospital will be reorganized into two teaching hospitals under Hanoi Medical University.

The Quang Nam Central General Hospital will be restructured as the third campus of Hue Central Hospital.

The Ministry is currently refining the proposal based on the guidance of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.

Current hospital landscape

Vietnam has 34 central-level hospitals under the Ministry of Health, serving as the highest-tier facilities in the healthcare system.

This network includes 11 general hospitals, such as Bach Mai Hospital and Cho Ray Hospital, as well as 23 specialized hospitals, including the National Geriatric Hospital, National Dermatology Hospital, and National Cancer Hospital.

Additionally, 13 hospitals are affiliated with medical universities, such as Hanoi Medical University Hospital and Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital.

The Ministry is also finalizing proposals for establishing a National Medical Council and a Central Center for Disease Control, which are expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister later this month.

Efforts to streamline public healthcare institutions include approving job position frameworks for affiliated units and consolidating public service organizations.

Challenges in central hospital access

According to the 2020 Medical Statistics Yearbook, central-level hospitals under the Ministry of Health account for 11.3% of public hospital beds nationwide.

Inpatient services at this level account for 9.4% of total usage, compared to 51.4% at provincial-level hospitals and 37.3% at district-level hospitals.

Non-public hospital beds make up approximately 7% of the nationwide total.

As provincial hospitals receive investments and upgrades to serve as regional hubs, the Ministry anticipates a decline in central-level hospital service demand.

It projects that by 2050, only 5% of inpatient services will occur at central hospitals, while 50% will shift to provincial hospitals, and 40% to district-level facilities.

Uneven regional distribution

Central hospital distribution is uneven across Vietnam’s regions, creating disparities in access.

For instance, the Central Highlands region has no central hospitals, while the Mekong Delta, with 13 provinces, has only one.

Similarly, the Northern Midlands and Mountainous region, comprising 14 provinces, also has only one central hospital.

Travel distance exacerbates access issues.

In some cases, patients must travel 4-5 hours by car from a provincial general hospital to the nearest central hospital, with others requiring 10-11 hours.

Persistent issues of overcrowding

At the National Health Conference for 2025, held on December 24, the Ministry acknowledged discrepancies in service quality across regions and healthcare tiers.

Overcrowding at central hospitals remains prevalent, partly due to limitations in provincial hospital capacity.

Data from Vietnam Social Insurance in 2020 indicates that many patients seek care outside their home provinces.

The highest rates of inter-provincial patients were recorded at Cho Ray Hospital (86.5%), Viet Duc Friendship Hospital (75.2%), Can Tho Central General Hospital (70.9%), and Bach Mai Hospital (68.3%).

Studies reveal that a significant proportion of cases treated at central hospitals could have been managed at provincial facilities.

For example, 35.4% of cases at Bach Mai Hospital, 43.3% at the National Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, and 35.5% at the National Children's Hospital fell into this category.

Vo Thu