Ho Chi Minh City Launches Free Health Checkups Regardless of Residence

Ho Chi Minh City has issued new guidelines enabling residents to receive free health checkups at designated medical facilities across the city, regardless of their place of residence. This initiative is part of the city's comprehensive health screening program and addresses previous issues where residents faced difficulties receiving checkups outside their registered areas. Director of the Department of Health, Tang Chi Thuong, stated that citizens can now choose medical facilities based on their workplace, living area, or convenience of travel, rather than being restricted to their registered residential district. For instance, individuals temporarily residing in one area but working in another can opt for a facility that offers greater convenience. The free health checkup program is open to Vietnamese citizens residing in Ho Chi Minh City, including both permanent residents and temporary residents whose information has been verified via the VNeID application. However, individuals under the management of the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, and employees whose health checkups are organized by their companies according to regulations are excluded. Initially, only hospitals under the ministries of Defense and Public Security, public hospitals, and regional health centers under the Department of Health are authorized to conduct these health checkups. Private clinics and hospitals are not yet participating in this program. The Department of Health explains that this selection aims to ensure standardized examination processes, professional quality, and facilitate the updating and management of electronic health records. Regarding the financial aspect for checkups outside one's residential area, the Department of Health assures that individuals will not incur any out-of-pocket expenses. The medical facilities providing the service will have their costs settled through a centralized mechanism managed by the Department of Health, eliminating the need for inter-district fund transfers. Information source: VnExpress