On October 5, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health found itself at the heart of a national conversation, responding to a wave of recommendations from voters across several provinces following the 9th session of the 15th National Assembly. The issues on the table? Tuition fee exemptions for medical students, streamlined access to healthcare for insured patients, and expanded medical cost coverage for elderly retirees. Each of these proposals, though distinct, shares a common thread: strengthening the country’s healthcare system and ensuring it remains accessible and sustainable for all.
One of the most pressing concerns came from voters in Dong Thap province. According to the Ministry of Health, as reported by multiple Vietnamese news outlets, these voters urged the government to consider tuition fee exemptions or reductions for medical students. The rationale was clear—Vietnam needs to attract more talented young people into medicine to build a robust healthcare workforce, especially as public health demands continue to rise.
The Ministry acknowledged the critical importance of these policies. "Tuition fee exemption and reduction policies for medical students aim to attract and develop high-quality healthcare personnel, essential for national healthcare system development and meeting increasing public health demands," the Ministry stated, as cited by Lao Dong and Tuoi Tre. The government has not been idle on this front. Under the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment No. 15/2023/QH15, effective from January 1, 2024, the state already supports tuition and living expenses for students in specialized fields like mental health, pathology, forensics, forensic psychiatry, infectious diseases, and emergency resuscitation. These are areas where Vietnam faces acute shortages, and the policy aims to ensure these critical specialties are staffed for the future.
What’s more, Government Decree No. 81/2021/ND-CP, as amended by Decree No. 97/2023/ND-CP, offers tuition fee exemptions for students in vocational and university education in fields such as occupational therapy, rehabilitation, mental health, forensic medicine, and pathology. The Ministry emphasized that these policies are applied nationwide and are funded by the state budget. The goal is to make it easier for students to enroll in difficult or less popular healthcare fields—those that are essential but often overlooked—thus contributing to the sustainable development of the nation’s medical workforce.
Yet, the Ministry of Health isn’t stopping there. Officials confirmed ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of current tuition support policies. They’re also preparing to propose new projects and policies, especially for priority fields during the 2026–2030 period. The vision is long-term: ensure Vietnam’s healthcare system is ready to meet the country’s evolving economic and social needs, and to guarantee high-quality care for all citizens.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan has been outspoken about the centrality of healthcare personnel in this equation. "Healthcare personnel are central to the healthcare system, and the Party and Government have repeatedly affirmed investment in healthcare as investment in development," she said, as quoted by the Ministry’s official communications. Looking ahead, the Ministry plans to focus on big-picture solutions—investing in high-quality healthcare training institutions and expanding tuition support and scholarships, particularly for students who commit to serving in grassroots, difficult, border, and island areas. The aim is clear: develop a healthcare workforce that is balanced in quantity, quality, and structure, with special attention to preventive medicine and remote regions.
But education and training are just one part of the broader healthcare puzzle. In An Giang province, voters called for another major reform: allowing patients with health insurance to seek medical care at any level—from commune clinics up to central hospitals—without the cumbersome requirement of referral papers. Their argument? The current tiered system, while designed to ensure patients receive appropriate care at the right level, can sometimes create unnecessary barriers and delays, especially for those facing serious or rare conditions.
The Ministry of Health responded by explaining the reasoning behind the tiered system. It’s intended to ensure that patients are treated at facilities best suited to their needs, with transfers to higher-level hospitals only when necessary. This approach, officials said, helps reduce overload at major hospitals, limits inpatient overcrowding, and improves overall treatment efficiency. However, the Ministry acknowledged that exceptions are sometimes warranted. Since 2016, for example, ethnic minorities and island residents have been allowed to go directly from commune-level facilities to central hospitals for inpatient care.
Now, in a significant policy shift, the Ministry announced that starting January 1, 2025, patients with health insurance who suffer from any of 62 rare or difficult diseases can be referred directly to central hospitals without the need for referral papers. This change, reported by Tuoi Tre, is designed to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles for those who need urgent or specialized care, marking a step forward in patient-centered healthcare reform.
Another heartfelt proposal came from voters who asked that retired officials aged 80 and above be granted 100% coverage of medical examination and treatment costs within the health insurance system. The Ministry’s response was measured. Citing Government Decree No. 20/2021, officials outlined that current policies already grant full medical cost coverage to certain vulnerable groups: poor households without caregivers, elderly aged 75-80 in poor or near-poor households in ethnic minority or particularly difficult mountainous areas, and those aged 80 and above without pension or social insurance who receive social assistance and community care.
While the Ministry shared voters’ concerns and aspirations, it cautioned that expanding 100% coverage to all retired officials aged 80 and above would require careful study. "Increasing 100% payment for retired officials aged 80 and above requires careful study to ensure the balance and stability of the health insurance fund and social security policies," the Ministry stated. The underlying concern is clear: any major expansion of benefits must be financially sustainable in the long run, lest it jeopardize the stability of the entire social insurance system.
Minister Dao Hong Lan’s recent visit to Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, where she met with patients and medical staff, underscored the government’s ongoing commitment to listening to the public and improving healthcare delivery. The Ministry’s responses show a delicate balancing act—addressing the immediate needs and aspirations of citizens, while also safeguarding the long-term viability of Vietnam’s healthcare system.
As these policy debates continue, one thing is certain: Vietnam’s approach to healthcare reform is evolving, shaped by the voices of its people and the determination of its leaders to build a system that is both compassionate and resilient. The coming years will reveal how these initiatives take shape—and whether they succeed in delivering on the promise of better health for all.
