Breakthroughs in primary healthcare

At the recent discussion session of the 10th sitting of the 15th National Assembly, held within the framework of the National Target Program on Healthcare, Population and Development for 2026-2035, many deputies emphasized that what people expect is not merely a new program, but a more progressive mindset toward health - one that helps Vietnamese citizens not only live longer but live longer in good health, with quality and contribution.

According to the deputies, to move toward free healthcare services, the priority must be reducing disease, and to reduce disease, risk factors must be addressed at their root. Achieving this requires strong institutions, strict management, and clearly assigned responsibility from the foundational level. Therefore, the national target program must not be viewed solely as a financial or technical initiative but as a reform in health-protection thinking. It will only be meaningful when the system shifts from a treatment-based mindset to a prevention-focused one, from medical spending to long-term investment in health. If done effectively, healthy life expectancy will increase substantially, hospitals will be less overloaded, the healthcare budget will be more balanced and sustainable, and older adults will enjoy healthier, more active lives.

A key solution proposed is the development of a new set of national criteria for commune-level healthcare, aligned with the two-tier local governance model, alongside a breakthrough investment in primary healthcare - particularly by expanding resources for commune health stations to manage chronic diseases.

The World Health Organization recommends that in developed countries, 80-90% of patients with non-communicable diseases are treated at the primary-care level. This is considered the true measure of a healthcare system’s capacity and is the goal Vietnam aims to reach. To achieve this, implementation plans must be scientific, rigorous, and comprehensive, with strong, coordinated action from local authorities at all levels.

By shifting the focus from treatment to prevention and establishing primary healthcare as the core pillar, Vietnam can build a truly effective and sustainable health system. This is the only pathway to increasing healthy life expectancy, reducing the burden of disease, balancing national healthcare spending, and securing a future where every citizen can live in good health, with quality, and in a sustainable, thriving society.

Phuong Dong