Ho Chi Minh City to Offer Up to VND 30 Million Monthly for Doctors Rotating to Local Health Stations

Ho Chi Minh City will offer monthly financial support of up to VND 30 million (approximately USD 1,200) for doctors who are rotated to work at healthcare stations in rural areas and islands. This policy, approved by the City People's Council, will be implemented from October 1, 2026, to the end of 2030. The support amount will be determined based on the doctor's qualifications, training duration, professional capacity, and job requirements. Doctors rotating to Thạnh An island commune will receive 1.2 times the base rate, potentially reaching VND 24 million per month. Those assigned to the Côn Đảo special zone will receive 1.5 times the base rate, with the highest possible support at VND 30 million per month. This additional support is separate from existing salaries, allowances, and other benefits. City authorities aim to incentivize doctors, especially those with high professional skills, to work at grassroots healthcare facilities. This initiative is expected to enhance local treatment capabilities, facilitate technology transfer, reduce patient referrals to higher-level hospitals, and improve residents' access to quality healthcare services in their localities. Following administrative boundary reclassifications, local health stations have seen an expanded scope of work, including managing non-communicable diseases, vaccination programs, maternal and child care, and electronic health record maintenance, in addition to primary care. The policy aligns with Resolution 72 of the Politburo, which mandates that localities rotate at least 1,000 doctors annually to work at commune-level health stations during the 2025-2030 period. Ho Chi Minh City currently operates 168 health stations serving approximately 14.5 million residents, but faces a shortage of doctors in various specialties. The estimated annual budget for this program is around VND 98 billion (approximately USD 5.8 million). Factoring in the highest support rates for remote locations, the total projected expenditure could reach over VND 108 billion (approximately USD 6.4 million) per year.