Vietnam's Health System
The Ministry of Health is the national authority with regards to the provision of health services. Provincial and District Health authorities and the Commune People’s Committee are responsible for the development and implementation of health strategies in Vietnam.
Despite having a strong central level, local government plays an important role in the provision of many services including health. Administration of health services is the responsibility of a health bureau at provincial and district level. The provincial health bureau administers provincial facilities and oversees the delivery of healthcare through district hospitals and communal health centres.
Over the past few decades Vietnam’ centralised model has changed to a more decentralised one. The Ministry of Health is responsible for developing national strategies and programmes as well as for the functioning (budget and manpower allocation) for the national institutions. The central level also plays a supervisory role for the national institutions and the Provincial level.
At the Provincial level the Provincial People’s Committee is responsible for manpower, budgeting and policy and planning. maternal and child health, family planning and control of communicable diseases (Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Trachoma). Management at the two lower levels is done by the District and Commune People’s Committees. At the District levels similar preventative services are offered. In addition mobile units may exist for delivery of healthcare in remote areas. At the Commune level, healthcare delivered by the Commune Health Station is focused on hygiene, vaccinations, antenatal care, safe delivery and health education.
Despite trying to devolve care to lower levels of the health system, care is mainly provided in hospitals. In Hanoi National Hospitals exist for each type of condition, e.g. National Cancer Hospital, National Hospital of Endocrinology, etc. In cities health care is delivered mainly through hospitals (specialised or general) in the public sector or private clinics. Each Province has a Provincial hospital and the level of facility below this is a Health Centre in the Districts.
There are a total of 903 Hospitals in Vietnam and 6.2 doctors per 100,000 population.
The referral system has many problems with patients jumping to higher levels without being directly referred. Patients with insurance are controlled with referral letters. Patients without insurance, as long as they pay there is no problem where they seek their healthcare.
Children are often not cared for at Health Centres due to staff anxiety regarding treating children, and they will often go straight to hospital.
Despite having a strong central level, local government plays an important role in the provision of many services including health. Administration of health services is the responsibility of a health bureau at provincial and district level. The provincial health bureau administers provincial facilities and oversees the delivery of healthcare through district hospitals and communal health centres.
Over the past few decades Vietnam’ centralised model has changed to a more decentralised one. The Ministry of Health is responsible for developing national strategies and programmes as well as for the functioning (budget and manpower allocation) for the national institutions. The central level also plays a supervisory role for the national institutions and the Provincial level.
At the Provincial level the Provincial People’s Committee is responsible for manpower, budgeting and policy and planning. maternal and child health, family planning and control of communicable diseases (Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Trachoma). Management at the two lower levels is done by the District and Commune People’s Committees. At the District levels similar preventative services are offered. In addition mobile units may exist for delivery of healthcare in remote areas. At the Commune level, healthcare delivered by the Commune Health Station is focused on hygiene, vaccinations, antenatal care, safe delivery and health education.
Despite trying to devolve care to lower levels of the health system, care is mainly provided in hospitals. In Hanoi National Hospitals exist for each type of condition, e.g. National Cancer Hospital, National Hospital of Endocrinology, etc. In cities health care is delivered mainly through hospitals (specialised or general) in the public sector or private clinics. Each Province has a Provincial hospital and the level of facility below this is a Health Centre in the Districts.
There are a total of 903 Hospitals in Vietnam and 6.2 doctors per 100,000 population.
The referral system has many problems with patients jumping to higher levels without being directly referred. Patients with insurance are controlled with referral letters. Patients without insurance, as long as they pay there is no problem where they seek their healthcare.
Children are often not cared for at Health Centres due to staff anxiety regarding treating children, and they will often go straight to hospital.
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