Resolution 72 not only focuses on health care but is also closely interlinked with other sectors, helping to build a solid foundation for sustainable national development and create momentum for Vietnam to “take off” and further integrate into the world.
The total value of medical expenses not covered by the health insurance fund is estimated at around 24.8 trillion VND (942 million USD) per year. Health insurance contributions remain low, at 4.5% of the salary or reference base used for calculation.
Over the past two decades, many Vietnamese experts have undertaken long-term missions at the Central Hospital 103 to provide training and technical assistance, contributing to the successful treatment of complex cases. The Central Military Hospital 108 has also trained 206 Lao doctors, six nurses and two engineers — a clear demonstration of substantive, long-standing cooperation.
As both nations look to keep their long-standing partnership in good health, the health ministries of Vietnam and Mexico have been accelerating cooperation, especially in traditional medicines.
The 33rd Vietnam International Medical and Pharmaceutical Exhibition (Vietnam Medi-Pharm 2025) and the International Exhibition on Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices and Healthcare (Vietmedicare Expo 2025) kicked off at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre on November 27.
The daily reference exchange rate is at 25,151 VND/USD on December 5, down 1 VND from the previous day.
In 2026, the province targets expanding its lychee-growing area to 29,800 ha with an expected output of 160,000 tonnes. Of this, 17,500 ha will be produced under VietGAP standards with an estimated yield of 125,000 tonnes; GlobalGAP-certified lychee areas will be maintained at 235 ha; and organic lychee areas at 10 ha.
Vietnamese durian is still experiencing strong growth despite facing technical barriers from China, thanks to improved quality and competitive pricing.
The goal for the next decade is to bring Vietnam's quality standards closer to international benchmarks, promote independent certification, introduce quality-linked payment mechanisms, and expand digital transformation.
Surgeons at the 108 Military Central Hospital successfully carried out a multi-organ transplant using organs from a brain-dead donor on November 22, marking two consecutive weeks in November during which the hospital has helped save 29 patients.
The fact that the Vietnamese doctors have been awarded with FRCS certificate proves Vietnam’s surgical expertise has met international standards, contributing to improving the quality of treatment at home, expanding academic cooperation with world leading medical institutions and inspiring younger doctor to pursue higher standards.
In mid-August, Viet Duc University Hospital announced that its doctors successfully performed Vietnam’s first-ever combined heart–lung transplant, marking a major step forward for the country’s medical field.
The two kidneys were among five organs, including the heart, liver, kidneys and corneas, donated by a man from Can Tho city who passed away following a traffic accident.
The initiative aims to not only lower medical costs but also strengthen social welfare and support sustainable poverty reduction.
Under the three-month programme, the Vietnamese specialists will provide hands-on instruction and technology transfer to Viengkhon Manivong and other doctors from Attapeu. Once the Lao doctors master the procedures, the Quang Ngai team will travel to Attapeu to complete the transfer and give on-site guidance.
The success of the two transplants for two patients in a single day has brought the total number of successful lung transplants performed by the National Lung Hospital to nine, placing Vietnam among the world’s leading lung transplant centres.
The successful emergency operation on a patient with serious chest injuries in Truong Sa showed that Vietnam’s military medical forces are now capable of handling complex emergencies at sea, boosting the confidence of soldiers and fishermen living and working on remote islands.
A leader of the Bac Ninh Industrial Zones Health Centre proposed that the draft documents of the 14th National Party Congress should include a clear orientation for developing healthcare models in industrial, export processing, and high-tech zones.
Surgeons at 108 Military Central Hospital have carried out a rare multi-organ transplant using organs from a brain-dead soldier, saving five patients in a single day.
In Vietnam, with about 15 million smokers, cigarette waste amounts to thousands of tonnes annually, worsening the plastic pollution crisis. Additionally, around 4.5 million hectares of land are destroyed yearly for tobacco cultivation and wood for drying.
In Vietnam, the dominant meningococcal serogroups vary over time, making epidemiological assessments and subsequent prevention challenging... This trend underscores the need for vigilant epidemiological surveillance and enhanced vaccination strategies.
Bayer, a global pharmaceutical conglomerate, is intensifying its contribution to Vietnam’s National Strategic Collaboration Program for Stroke Prevention and Management through new public–private partnership initiatives.
This cooperation aims to expedite access to advanced medicines and vaccines developed by GSK, particularly by bringing to Vietnam new specialty medicines produced at GSK’s modern, globally strategic manufacturing facilities in Worthing and Barnard Castle (UK).
The post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccines, valued at 100,000 USD, were delivered to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in the two provinces through coordination with the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), the Ministry of Health, and local authorities. The donation was made possible with financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
A round-the-clock emergency and disease control team has been mobilised to promptly respond to any urgent situations, including accidents, food poisoning, fires, or large-scale health incidents.
Assoc Prof Dr Nguyen Hoang Dinh, deputy director of the hospital, said that the hospital's goal is to develop a 'Heart Valve Centre of Excellence' that meets international standards for the treatment of heart valve disease.
A symposium on cardiovascular and stroke prevention, quality of life, and longevity, titled “Policosanol and the Longevity Factor HDL”, was co-organised by Tue Tinh Hospital, Hasu No Hana Joint Stock Company, Cuba’s National Scientific Research Centre (CNIC), and Raydel Group.
From battling epidemics to restructuring its system following the administrative boundary expansion, Ho Chi Minh City’s health sector has overcome difficulties and gradually reaffirmed its role as the nation’s largest medical hub.
