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| Citizens nationwide will receive free regular health check-ups or screening at least once a year starting in 2026__Photo: VNA |
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra on May 6 issued Directive 17/CT-TTg on the organisation of free regular health check-ups or screening for citizens.
The Directive states that Poliburo Resolution 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025, on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of the people’s health, requires a radical shift in public awareness and action for such work.
The core transition is from the mindset focusing on medical examination and treatment to proactive disease prevention, emphasising comprehensive and continuous health care throughout the entire life cycle. The resolution sets a strategic objective that from 2026, citizens will receive free regular health check-ups or screening at least once a year and be provided with electronic health records to manage their health throughout their life cycle, gradually reducing the burden of medical costs.
The Government also adopted Resolution 282/NQ-CP dated September 15, 2025, on the action program to implement Resolution 72, and the National Assembly adopted Resolution 261/2025/QH15 dated December 11, 2025, on a number of special mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in the protection, care and improvement of the people’s health.
Key tasks for performance from 2026
To ensure the synchronous and effective implementation of the Directive nationwide, the Prime Minister requests secretaries of provincial and municipal Party’s Committees and chairpersons of People’s Committees of cities and provinces to consider the organisation of free regular health check-ups or screenings for citizens as a central, regular and long-term task. The goal is that by the end of 2026, the entire population will have received free regular health check-ups or screening and provided with electronic health records for their lifetime health management.
The Ministry of Education and Training is assigned to take charge of and coordinate with related ministries and agencies in directing and guiding localities and educational institutions in the implementation as well as collaborate with medical examination and treatment establishments to provide free regular health check-ups for pupils and students. This task will be completed by June 2026 to ensure implementation at the very start of the 2026-27 academic year.
The provincial/municipal People’s Committees are tasked to formulate plans and provide guidance and coordinate with one another in providing free regular health check-ups and screenings for residents by target group. In this regard, particular attention and priority should be given to people with meritorious service to the revolution, the elderly, persons with disabilities, members of poor and near-poor households, individuals with chronic illnesses, and those living in ethnic minority, mountainous, border and island areas and areas struck by socio-economic difficulties or extreme socio-economic difficulties.
They will also provide free mobile health check-ups in communities, residential areas and remote, border and island areas and areas facing socio-economic difficulties or extreme socio-economic difficulties.
The Prime Minister requests ministries, ministerial-level agencies, other central bodies, organisations, enterprises and employers to formulate plans and provide free annual regular health check-ups or screening for employees in compliance with the law on occupational safety and health.
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour is requested to direct trade unions at all levels to coordinate with employers in mobilizing trade union members and employees to participate in free regular health check-ups or screening.- (VLLF)
