Vietnam Boosts Healthcare and Welfare Services for Aging Population

Vietnam is actively expanding its healthcare and welfare services to address its rapidly aging population. In Hanoi's Long Bien ward, a surplus facility from administrative restructuring has been transformed into a friendly daycare center offering medical and social support for the elderly, demonstrating how streamlined public administration can better utilize existing infrastructure. The Vietnamese government is revising its national program on elderly care through 2030, which will entitle the elderly to at least one free annual health check-up or screening from 2026. This shift aims to encourage healthy and independent aging through early preparation, covering aspects like healthy lifestyles, regular check-ups, financial planning, suitable employment, and home-based elderly care skills. In the healthcare sector, significant transformations are underway to improve healthcare delivery and public health, in line with Politburo Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW. Initiatives include the introduction of telemedicine and a "multipolar model" that brings specialist expertise closer to where people live. Furthermore, a national pre-hospital emergency management platform is set to be operational from 2027, connecting with emergency call systems (113, 114, 115) to facilitate rapid dispatch and improve public access to emergency services. Technological advancements in medicine are also notable. Vietnam's first robotic surgery on adults was performed in late 2016, marking a major milestone. Currently, robot-assisted cancer surgery, including procedures for prostate, gynecological, and gastrointestinal cancers using the US-made da Vinci Xi system, is offered at costs starting from just $3,000 USD, significantly lower than in the US and Singapore, attracting international medical tourists. The Da Nang Oncology Hospital has also reported successfully treating a patient with a rare simultaneous EGFR and ALK gene mutation in non-small cell lung cancer. Meanwhile, infectious disease control remains a priority. This year, dengue fever cases have more than doubled compared to the same period last year, with southern cities and provinces reporting high numbers. In Hanoi, 316 dengue cases were recorded from August 7-14, with new outbreaks also reported. In response, Vietnam and China have established a cross-border training and exchange center for infectious disease control to strengthen cooperation. As Vietnam continues its economic growth, addressing the challenges of an aging population through enhanced healthcare and welfare services is a key priority for the government, aiming to improve the quality of life for its citizens. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.