Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine to Expand Scale While Maintaining Training Standards

Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, located in Ho Chi Minh City, will transition into a phase of more distinct scale expansion in terms of student numbers, offered programs, and teaching and organizational systems starting from the 2026-2027 academic year. Recent trends in the university's entrance examinations highlight its strong appeal as a major public medical institution in Ho Chi Minh City. This aligns with the growing importance of training specialized medical personnel in Vietnam. Under Vietnam's one-party system, the education sector, particularly the training of highly specialized professionals, is often positioned as part of national strategy. The expansion of medical universities is expected to contribute to the improvement of domestic medical services and, consequently, the enhancement of public health. Furthermore, while Vietnam has achieved rapid economic growth, disparities in healthcare services between regions and income groups remain a challenge. The expansion of public medical universities while maintaining educational standards can also be seen as part of long-term efforts to address these disparities. Additionally, Vietnam has been exploring its potential as an international medical tourism hub in recent years, and providing high-quality medical education that meets international standards could support such global endeavors.