Residents delighted at free periodic health check-ups

Thousands of residents in six Safety Zone communes and wards of Dong Nai City, including Tri An, Loc Ninh, Loc Thanh, Loc Tan, Phu Ly, and Loc Quang, received free periodic health check-ups, health screenings, and gifts on July 12. The initiative was launched in response to the 180-day-and-night peak campaign on universal periodic health check-ups under Prime Minister's Directive No. 17/CT-TTg, dated May 6, 2026 (referred to as the campaign).

A resident of Tri An Ward undergoes a dental and facial examination during the 180-day-and-night peak campaign on universal periodic health check-ups. Photo: Le Duy

Following implementation in the six Safety Zone communes and wards, the health sector will extend free periodic health check-ups to residents in the remaining communes and wards across the city.

Residents receive free health check-ups in their communities

From the early morning of July 12, the first day of the campaign, thousands of residents in the six Safe Zone communes and wards gathered at designated examination sites to receive free general health check-ups. It is the first time residents have benefited from a free health check-up program of such a large scale in their communities.

Dinh Thi Men, a resident of Tri An Ward, said, “We usually only go to the doctor when we feel sick. Therefore, being able to receive a free health check-up right where we live makes everyone very excited. Periodic check-ups like this will help people detect diseases early and receive timely treatment. The doctors are very dedicated and also provide advice on appropriate diets and lifestyles. I hope the program will be maintained over the long term so that residents, especially the elderly, can receive more regular health care.”

At nearly 7:00 a.m. on July 12, 80-year-old Luu Thi Huong, from Quarter 1 of Loc Ninh Ward, was taken by her grandchild to the free periodic health check-up and screening site at Loc Ninh Boarding Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities. While waiting for her examination, Huong said, “A few years ago, I was unfortunately involved in a traffic accident, which affected my health and made it difficult for me to get around. Therefore, I hope that by coming here today, I will receive a thorough examination and detailed advice to improve my health. This campaign is being implemented on a large scale, and we are very happy to see the clear concern of the Party and the State for the people's health.”

Dieul Canh, Secretary of the Party Cell of Quarter 10 in Loc Ninh Ward, said, “Ninety percent of the residents in Quarter 10 are of the S’tieng ethnic group, and their economic conditions have improved in recent years. However, residents have not yet been proactive about their health care. Several days ago, we informed local residents, distributed forms, and reminded households to attend the check-ups early. As a result, a large number of people came on the day of the examinations. They are pleased to receive free examinations, and they also hope that doctors and medical staff will conduct extensive outreach to teach them how to maintain their health, especially in caring for mothers, children, and the elderly.”

Hoang Van Tinh, Vice Chairman of the Loc Ninh Ward People's Committee, said, “The ward currently has more than 32,000 residents, with ethnic minorities accounting for more than 4%, mainly concentrated in Quarter 10. After the first day of launching the campaign, we will direct local health facilities to coordinate closely with higher-level health authorities and partner units to continue implementing the campaign effectively, ensuring that every resident can access and benefit from this humane and meaningful policy.”

Nguyen Van Manh, Vice Chairman of the Tri An Ward People's Committee, said that immediately after the city launched the campaign, the Ward People's Committee directed the Ward Health Station and relevant agencies and mass organizations to develop a coordinated implementation plan. The locality reviewed and compiled a list of residents by quarter, prepared adequate facilities and equipment, and arranged two centralized examination sites to ensure the examination process was conducted in a scientific and convenient manner.

Residents of Loc Ninh Ward receive medical examinations, health screenings, and consultations during the program. Photo: Quang Minh

Enhancing health management effectiveness

On the first day of the campaign, doctors and medical personnel from Dong Nai -2 General Hospital, University Medical Shing Mark Hospital, Hoan My Dong Nai Hospital, Phuc An General Hospital, and many other medical units simultaneously conducted health examinations and consultations. The activities were carried out in an efficient and orderly manner.

Representing the campaign's partner and sponsor, MSc. Pharm. Duong Nguyen Diem Ha, Medical Director of the Ho Chi Minh City-based Servier Pharmaceutical Research Institute of the French Republic, said, “The campaign translates the health sector's policy of shifting from treatment to disease prevention into concrete action, placing patients at the center and making grassroots healthcare the foundation. Through this activity, residents can better understand their health status, enabling them to receive appropriate management, monitoring and early treatment when necessary. We are honored to sponsor the program, enabling doctors and medical staff to provide health check-ups for residents.”

Dong Nai City currently has about 5 million residents living in 95 communes and wards across a large area with uneven population distribution. In implementing the Prime Minister's Directive No. 17, the Department of Health has proactively advised the City People's Committee to issue an implementation plan and coordinate with departments, sectors, and localities in carrying out the campaign. The objective is to gradually ensure that residents receive free periodic health check-ups. Examination results are updated in the Electronic Health Record on the VNeID application, contributing to early disease detection, improving the effectiveness of health management, and strengthening preventive medicine.

“We highly appreciate that Dong Nai is one of the pioneering localities in implementing a large-scale universal periodic health check-up campaign. The Ministry of Health will continue to accompany Dong Nai in professional work, digital transformation, and perfecting the universal health data system. When every citizen has an electronic health record that is updated regularly, the health sector will have the conditions to monitor, manage, and provide continuous health care, aiming to build a modern preventive medicine system that is patient-centered, contributing to improving the quality of life and the sustainable development of the grassroots health system.”

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen

Do Thi Nguyen, Director of the Dong Nai Department of Health, said, “The campaign is a key political task of the health sector in 2026. Therefore, units and localities must mobilize all available resources, organize examinations simultaneously, ensure substantive implementation, promote the core role of the grassroots health workforce in managing the people's health, and use the quality of examinations, the effectiveness of post-examination health management, and resident satisfaction as the criteria for evaluating the campaign's results.”

The 180-day-and-night peak campaign on universal periodic health check-ups is a major policy of the Party and the State that enables residents to access healthcare services at the grassroots level. The digitalization of health check-ups and health data updates aims to ensure that every citizen receives regular health management, monitoring and care, thereby making an important contribution to improving public health.

By Quang Minh, Le Duy – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha