Achieving nationwide, free healthcare by 2035 requires strategic planning and concerted efforts.

HÀ NỘI, VIỆT NAM - In an ambitious move towards providing universal healthcare, Việt Nam aims to offer free healthcare services by 2035, beginning with basic medical facilities. While the announcement has met with widespread acclaim, healthcare experts urge careful and thorough planning to navigate the challenges associated with this initiative.

The proposed plan, introduced by Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, encompasses reforms in financial mechanisms, organizational restructuring, capacity building at grassroots healthcare centers, and tighter quality control of public services. The proposed plan is being hailed as a significant breakthrough in the country's healthcare strategy.

Deputy Minister of Health Trần Văn Thuấn described the plan as profoundly humane. The Ministry is currently drafting a proposal to present to the Government and the Politburo, aiming for the issuance of a resolution that lines up with the nation's development goals for the new era. At the heart of the proposal are solutions that prioritize the development of healthcare services, aiming to gradually eliminate hospital fees for all citizens.

Simultaneously, the Ministry is expediting the development of a decree detailing the implementation of the Health Insurance Law and drafting circulars outlining reimbursement conditions for patients. Discussions with the Government Party Committee and relevant ministries and agencies are expected soon.

The rollout plan will proceed in two phases. From 2026 to 2030, efforts will focus on strengthening grassroots healthcare, ensuring that 90% of the population receives preventive medical care, and eliminating hospital fees for vulnerable groups. From 2030 to 2035, the plan is to extend free hospital care to the entire population, paired with mandatory health insurance and reformed payment mechanisms.

Public reaction to the announcement has been overwhelmingly positive. Nguyễn Văn Mạnh, aged 62, who is undergoing dialysis at Bạch Mai Hospital, expressed hope that universal healthcare would alleviate financial burdens on families like his. Cancer patient Nguyễn Thị Lan stated that treatment costs were exorbitant, and waiving hospital fees would allow her to focus her energy on recovery. Diabetes patient Trần Văn Dũng echoed these sentiments, feeling hopeful for the soon implementation of the plan, especially for those with chronic illnesses.

While the universal free healthcare initiative presents undeniable humanitarian value and appeals to the public, it also poses significant challenges. According to the World Bank, the country must increase healthcare spending from the current 2.7% of GDP to a level similar to that of developed nations with mature healthcare systems to achieve universal health coverage.

The current public healthcare spending already surpasses VNĐ175 trillion (US$6.74 billion) annually, with nearly VNĐ112 trillion ($4.31 billion) set aside solely for health insurance reimbursements. Eliminating hospital fees would require tens of trillions more annually, creating considerable fiscal pressure amid competing demands for social welfare, education, and national defense.

Capacity constraints remain a critical concern, with the Ministry of Health reporting a shortage of about 23,800 preventive healthcare workers, including over 8,000 doctors. Overcrowding prevails in central hospitals, particularly in oncology, intensive care, and cardiology departments. Without strengthened grassroot healthcare services and more equitable personnel distribution, universal free care could strain an already stretched system.

Young cancer patients receive treatment at the Oncology Centre of Việt Nam National Children's Hospital. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

Consultations with the Government Party Committee and relevant ministries and agencies are yet to commence. The success of the proposal will hinge on financial capacity and robust resource mobilization mechanisms. Dr Đào Xuân Cơ, the Director of Bạch Mai Hospital, proposed reaching this goal by expanding universal health insurance coverage, engaging businesses, philanthropists, and social funds, and establishing mechanisms to effectively mobilize these resources.

Addressing human resource concerns, Dr Đỗ Ngọc Văn, the Director of the Institute for Social Issues under the Việt Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations, highlighted the importance of sustainable economic growth and comprehensive healthcare financing reform to ensure a viable universal free hospital care system. "In the short term, we should prioritize free care for vulnerable populations and patients with chronic conditions to alleviate pressure on the healthcare system and the state budget," he added.

The government's plan to offer free healthcare services by 2035, as proposed by Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, includes reforms in financial mechanisms and organizational restructuring, with a focus on capacity building at grassroots healthcare centers and tighter quality control of public services.
The Ministry of Health is currently working on a proposal that prioritizes the development of healthcare services to gradually eliminate hospital fees for all citizens, also drafting a decree detailing the implementation of the Health Insurance Law and outlining reimbursement conditions for patients.
This initiative, if successful, will have a significant impact on the country's healthcare strategy, addressing issues such as chronic medical conditions like chronic kidney disease and cancer.
The challenge lies in the need to increase healthcare spending, currently at 2.7% of GDP, and addressing capacity constraints, such as the shortage of preventive healthcare workers and overcrowding in central hospitals.
To address these challenges, Dr Đào Xuân Cơ, the Director of Bạch Mai Hospital, proposes expanding universal health insurance coverage, engaging businesses, philanthropists, and social funds, and establishing mechanisms to effectively mobilize these resources.
Dr Đò̃ Ngọc Văn, the Director of the Institute for Social Issues, emphasizes the importance of sustainable economic growth for a viable universal free hospital care system, suggesting that free care for vulnerable populations and patients with chronic conditions should be prioritized in the short term.
With the implementation of this universal free healthcare initiative, it is hoped that financial burdens on families like that of Nguyễn Văn Mạnh, a 62-year-old undergoing dialysis, would be alleviated.
The success of the proposal will also have implications for the field of science and technology, with potential advancements in AI and technology for improved health and wellness outcomes.

Achieving nationwide, free healthcare by 2035 requires strategic planning and concerted efforts.