Japan aids Vietnam’s preparedness for public health emergencies in border provinces

Through the aid, about 2 million people in four border provinces are expected to benefit from awareness campaigns and training for healthcare and veterinary workers.

Medical workers help residents in Ha Giang better understand social welfare policies. (Photo: VNA)
Medical workers help residents in Ha Giang better understand social welfare policies. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Japanese Government has announced a 1.5 million USD aid package to support Vietnam’s realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, channelling funds through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), according to the UN agencies in Vietnam.

The aid adopts the "One Health" approach, a holistic and unified strategy that balances and optimises the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems sustainably.

It aims to strengthen Vietnam’s preparedness and response to public health emergencies, particularly in the border provinces of Ha Giang, Ha Tinh, Dong Thap and An Giang. Through raising awareness among local officials and communities, the project will highlight the interconnectedness of human health, livestock, wildlife, plants, and the broader environment, including ecosystem, with support by experts from agencies under the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Roughly 2 million people in these provinces are expected to benefit from awareness campaigns and training for healthcare and veterinary workers, spearheaded by the IOM.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki believed that this project presents a major opportunity to improve public health, foster cross-sector partnerships, and secure a healthier future for all.

In each province, a technical working group will unite experts from health, veterinary, plant protection, border control, and environmental sectors alongside local authorities.

The effort aims to train 80 group members and 240 healthcare professionals, with simulations on avian influenza and rabies outbreaks planned to sharpen emergency response skills. The veterinary sector will also gain faster disease detection through mobile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology.

Beyond Vietnam's borders, the project seeks to enhance bilateral cooperation in public health preparedness and response through dialogue on disease response and cross-border contingency planning with neighbouring countries such as Cambodia and Laos.

As a partner of the MoH, the IOM is committed to helping the Vietnamese Government build sustainable and mobility-sensitive health systems that integrate human mobility perspectives, said IOM Chief of Mission Vietnam Kendra Rinas/.

VNA

See more

From 2026, all residents in Ho Chi Minh City will receive periodic health check-ups or screening at least once a year under a roadmap. Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City to offer annual health check-ups for residents

In the initial phase in 2026, priority will be given to children under 24 months old, students, out-of-school minors, contracted employees, probationary workers, apprentices, public officials, members of the armed forces, social protection beneficiaries and people aged 60 and above.

Patients register at the reception desk upon arrival for medical examination. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City targets free basic hospital fees for residents by 2030

Under the programme, the southern largest economic hub has set several key health targets to be achieved by 2030. The average height of children and adolescents under 18 is expected to increase by at least 1.5cm, while the average life expectancy of residents is projected to reach around 77 years, including at least 68 years of healthy living.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam extends greetings to leaders and staff of the Hanoi – Vientiane General Hospital on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the Vietnamese Doctors’ Day on February 27. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese doctors in Laos help foster bilateral solidarity

Commending the Hanoi – Vientiane General Hospital’s 13-year development, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam noted that prioritising conscience and virtue has helped it build a strong reputation among Lao citizens, the Vietnamese community and international friends in Laos.

Organ transplantation at the University Medical Centre Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: the University Medical Centre Ho Chi Minh City)

Professional excellence, dedication define Vietnam’s healthcare system

When patients pull through from the brink of death, when their vital signs stabilise and transplanted hearts begin beating strongly in new bodies, the joy shared by the entire medical team is overwhelming. And when the country welcomes the New Year, saving lives takes on an even more profound significance — offering patients and their families a new spring of hope.

At Phu Rieng communal medical station in Dong Nai province (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam fosters maternal and child healthcare, advances toward 2035 goals

The under-five mortality rate in Vietnam in 2025 was estimated at below 16 per 1,000 live births, more than three times lower than the 1990 level. The infant mortality rate (under one year) declined fourfold to below 11 per 1,000, while the neonatal mortality rate dropped fivefold, from 44 per 1,000 in 1990 to 8.8 per 1,000 in 2025.

Medicine support programmes provide significant benefits to patients throughout their course of treatment. (Photo: VNA)

Over 6,000 patients receive free medicines

The schemes focus primarily on cancer, rare diseases and severe chronic conditions, areas where treatment costs are high and often require expensive biological and originator drugs.

A lung transplant surgery at the National Lung Hospital (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam reaches new height in organ transplantation

From demanding cross-country transplants to highly specialised procedures nearing regional and international standards, the sector has created new chances of survival for thousands of patients. However, persistent bottlenecks in organ donation and the legal framework highlight the urgent need to further perfect the national donation–transplantation system. In the era of advanced medicine, progress is measured not only by surgical mastery, but also by the ability to turn loss into hope and sustain life.

The DAV asks pharmacy producers and distributors to increase medicine supply capacity during Tet to meet increasing demand (Photo: VNA)

Measures rolled out to ensure adequate medicine supply during Tet

Accordingly, provincial and municipal health departments are required to direct hospitals, centres for disease control and health care facilities to urgently develop plans and carry out medicine procurement to ensure sufficient supply, absolutely avoiding shortages. Medicines must meet quality standards and be sold at reasonable prices, with no sudden price increases allowed.

Military doctors conduct ultrasound examinations for residents in Dong Dang town, Cao Loc district, Lang Son province. (Photo: VNA)

Resolution 72 opens path to a modern, sustainable healthcare system

To build a resilient healthcare system capable of meeting the challenges of ageing, emerging diseases and rising expectations for quality care, Vietnam must continue to strengthen primary and preventive care, invest in human resources, accelerate digitalisation and big data development, and refine healthcare financing mechanisms.