Ho Chi Minh City targets completion of universal health check-ups by December 15

According to the municipal Department of Health, as of July 20, a total of 732,873 residents had undergone periodic check-ups and had electronic health records established. The figure reflects encouraging initial results from the citywide campaign launched by the department and underscores local authorities' commitment to implementing one of the largest community healthcare programmes ever undertaken in the southern metropolis.

Doctors from Cho Ray Hospital conduct preventive health screenings for residents at the Cho Lon ward health station. (Photo: VNA)
Doctors from Cho Ray Hospital conduct preventive health screenings for residents at the Cho Lon ward health station. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) – Following the launch of a 150-day intensive campaign to provide health check-ups for all residents, local authorities across Ho Chi Minh City have accelerated implementation, aiming to complete health screenings for the entire population by December 15.

According to the municipal Department of Health, as of July 20, a total of 732,873 residents had undergone periodic check-ups and had electronic health records established. The figure reflects encouraging initial results from the citywide campaign launched by the department and underscores local authorities' commitment to implementing one of the largest community healthcare programmes ever undertaken in the southern metropolis.

Ba Diem commune currently leads the city with 16,508 residents having received check-ups and electronic records, followed by Long Hai commune (16,161), An Nhon Tay commune (15,093), Xuan Thoi Son commune (14,491) and Phu Hoa Dong commune (14,003).

Meanwhile, six localities have so far recorded health screening rates of less than 2% of their populations.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Dung, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health, said the city would mobilise 480 healthcare facilities, including public and private hospitals, ministry-run hospitals, commune health stations and polyclinics, to participate in the programme through the end of the year. A total of 10,000 healthcare workers have been trained and are ready to take part.

The Department of Health has assigned healthcare facilities to support local authorities in conducting health screenings. Each commune, ward and special administrative area has been linked with one or more medical facilities based on population size and local conditions. Hospitals are working closely with local administrations to organise mobile health screening teams at health stations, community screening sites and residential areas to ensure convenient access for residents.

To ensure no one is overlooked, the city has divided the rollout into specific target groups with defined timelines. Around 6 million formally employed workers, including public officials, civil servants, public employees and enterprise workers, are expected to complete their check-ups by October 31. Healthcare workers themselves are scheduled to complete screenings during July.

For more than 3.5 million pupils and students, including 2.7 million school pupils and 800,000 university and college students, health screenings will begin after the start of the new academic year and are expected to be completed by October 31.

For children not attending school, informal workers and other vulnerable groups, the city will conduct door-to-door outreach to encourage participation in the programme. Residents aged 90 and above, as well as those with mobility difficulties, will receive health check-ups at home from medical staff./.

VNA

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