The healthcare sector outlines an ambitious national health agenda amid demographic and technological shifts.
On December 29, the Ministry of Health held its annual review conference for 2025 and the 2021–2025 term. The event also outlined directions for 2026–2030 and the key tasks for 2026.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan speaking at the conference. Photo: VGP/Duc Tuan
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan noted that, alongside the central mission of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector also grappled with post-pandemic difficulties - including medicine shortages, regulatory gaps, a wave of medical staff resignations, and fallout from legal cases within the health sector.
According to the Minister, institutional reform was identified as a breakthrough during this term. The Ministry submitted several crucial legislative proposals, including the amended Law on Medical Examination and Treatment (2023), revisions to the Law on Pharmacy and Law on Health Insurance (2024), and new laws on Disease Prevention and Population Policy.
The minister emphasized that the medical examination and treatment sector has advanced in specialization and modernization, while patient-centered care has improved noticeably. Preventive health and primary care have been strengthened, infectious diseases brought under control, and digital health transformation has shown tangible progress.
However, Dao Hong Lan candidly acknowledged that several shortcomings and challenges remain that must be addressed going forward.
Food and drug violations still cause public concern
Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long also spoke at the conference, praising the healthcare sector for its significant contributions to the country’s overall progress.
He emphasized that these achievements were the result of tireless dedication by generations of doctors, nurses, and health workers - the "white-coat warriors" committed to protecting the public's health.
The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that despite numerous challenges, the sector achieved and even surpassed all key performance indicators during the past term.
However, he pointed out several ongoing issues. Disparities remain in health indicators and access to care across regions. Primary and preventive care is still underdeveloped, food safety and hospital management face shortcomings, and certain areas suffer from a shortage of healthcare personnel.
“There is still no strong enough policy mechanism to attract resources for healthcare, particularly in the private sector,” he said. “Violations and profiteering in medicine, food safety, and healthcare services continue to anger the public. Meanwhile, the pace of digital transformation in the sector remains slow.”
Other pressing challenges include population aging, gender imbalance at birth, and weaknesses in social support systems.
Looking ahead, the Deputy Prime Minister urged the sector to actively implement major Party and State policies, expedite institutional reforms, accelerate digital transformation, mobilize social resources, improve healthcare ethics, restructure the healthcare system for greater efficiency, and complete major hospital projects to better meet public demand.
Targeting 75.5 years of life expectancy within five years
People receiving checkups at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi. Photo: BVCC
According to the Ministry’s 2025 report, the sector met all three major socio-economic targets assigned by the National Assembly: the proportion of the population with health insurance, the number of doctors, and the number of hospital beds per 10,000 residents.
The health insurance coverage rate reached an estimated 95.15%, exceeding expectations. There were 15 doctors and 34.5 hospital beds per 10,000 residents. Average life expectancy reached approximately 74.8 years, while public satisfaction with health services surpassed 90%.
These results reflect the sector’s significant recovery and determination in improving public health.
For the 2026–2030 phase, the Ministry of Health aims to push comprehensive reform in alignment with national strategies.
Its overarching targets for 2030 include:
Raising average life expectancy to about 75.5 years Effectively controlling non-communicable diseases Maintaining high vaccination rates Eliminating AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria Ensuring national health security in all scenarios
Key strategies include refining healthcare legislation, streamlining the healthcare system for efficiency, enhancing grassroots and preventive care capabilities, developing high-quality medical personnel, securing access to medicines, vaccines, and medical equipment, and boosting digital and financial transformation toward universal healthcare coverage.
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