Editor’s note: In the draft political report by the 13th Central Executive Committee now under public consultation, Vietnam’s average life expectancy by 2025 is projected at 74.8 years, with 67 years lived in good health.

While health indicators have improved, the report highlights major gaps in healthcare services - particularly grassroots and preventive care - posing growing challenges in the context of rapid population aging.

VietnamNet is publishing a series titled “Vietnam faces critical shortfall in elderly care facilities” to spotlight the rising needs of the elderly and propose urgent solutions to develop a health system that meets their care demands.

As of 2024, 9.3% of Vietnam’s population is aged 65 and above. According to the Ministry of Health, the country is expected to enter an “aged population” phase by 2036, when this demographic reaches 14.2%. This stage will last until 2055.

Among Vietnam’s six socio-economic regions, the Mekong Delta is projected to have the highest aging index.

With the rise in chronic, non-communicable diseases - particularly cardiovascular conditions and cancer - demand for elderly healthcare is rapidly increasing.

Geriatric facilities remain alarmingly scarce

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For the elderly, health is the key to quality of life. Illustration: Hoang Ha

The number of geriatric hospitals and departments in Vietnam is critically low, especially compared to the number of obstetrics, pediatrics, and OB-GYN combined hospitals at the provincial level.

At the central level, the National Geriatric Hospital in Hanoi is the sole specialized facility for the elderly. In contrast, there are large central hospitals like the National Pediatric Hospital and the National Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, as well as Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, with thousands of inpatient beds.

In the South, Dr. Do Kim Que, Deputy Director of Thong Nhat Hospital, noted that while their hospital treats many elderly patients, it remains a general hospital with a focus on geriatrics, not a specialized one.

In Hanoi, 10.5% of residents are over 65 - about 900,000 people - but the city lacks a dedicated geriatric hospital. Some hospitals have geriatrics departments, but these mainly provide basic care or rehabilitation, such as Dong Da General Hospital, Hanoi Traditional Medicine Hospital, and the Rehabilitation Hospital.

According to Dr. Ho Thi Kim Thanh from Hanoi Medical University, the city has about 250,000 residents aged 75 and above, many of whom require continuous social and medical support. She suggested Hanoi needs at least 10 specialized geriatric hospitals or departments.

Currently, Quang Ninh Rehabilitation and Geriatric Hospital is the only provincial public facility specialized in elderly care. Lao Cai Province recently announced plans to convert its Rehabilitation Hospital into a geriatric and rehabilitation center to serve the Northwest region.

Despite having over 1,300 public hospitals, Vietnam only has 106 central and provincial facilities with geriatric departments. Nearly 1,000 hospitals have general departments with dedicated clinics or examination tables for elderly patients.

Given this shortage, Dr. Do Kim Que stressed the urgent need to expand Vietnam’s national geriatric care network.

A deeper problem: Lack of trained specialists

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Vietnam has over 1,300 public hospitals, but only 106 have geriatric departments. Photo: Vo Thu

According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam has fewer than 1,800 healthcare workers formally trained in geriatrics.

Studies by the ministry’s specialized agencies indicate that local healthcare providers, especially doctors at the grassroots level, lack the skills to meet the evolving healthcare needs associated with an aging population.

Dr. Ha Thi Van Anh, Head of Outpatient Services at the National Geriatric Hospital, said training geriatric professionals is complex due to its overlap with neurology, cardiology, endocrinology, metabolism, and musculoskeletal care.

Attracting specialists to this field is even harder, as geriatric care is more demanding than treating younger patients.

“A geriatric doctor must not only master elderly-specific knowledge but also understand a wide range of specialties,” Dr. Van Anh noted. “They must monitor patients carefully to detect risks such as falls, pressure ulcers, anxiety disorders, and intervene early.”

Since elderly patients often suffer from multiple conditions, prescribing medications becomes a challenge. Physicians must assess side effects, drug interactions, financial capability, and treatment adherence.

Patience and compassion are essential, as elderly patients move slowly and often have impaired hearing and vision, making communication difficult. Cognitive decline also complicates diagnosis, often requiring input from family or caregivers.

Vo Thu