Dong Nai steps up free universal health checkups

On November 1, the Tam Hiep Ward People's Committee launched a free routine health examination and screening campaign for local residents at two locations: the Quarter 8 Office and Church of St. Joseph on Tran Quoc Toan Street in Quarter 2, opposite the Tam Hiep Ward People's Committee headquarters.

Luu Thi Hang, Vice Chairwoman of the Tam Hiep Ward People's Committee, inspects the free health examination work for local residents at Church of St. Joseph on the morning of November 1. Photo: Hanh Dung

According to Luu Thi Hang, Vice Chairwoman of the Tam Hiep Ward People's Committee, the Ward Health Station coordinated with Hanh Phuc General Clinic, Dong Nai-2 Hospital, and Saigon–Bien Hoa Eye Hospital to provide health examination at Church of St. Joseph from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Residents received blood pressure measurements, ultrasound examinations, eye examinations, internal medicine consultations, and other medical services. Meanwhile, at the Quarter 8 Office, doctors and medical staff from Long Binh General Clinic provided health screening services. The clinic brought a mobile X-ray vehicle to the site to take X-rays for residents and also collected their blood and urine samples for testing. The program attracted a large number of residents from across the ward.

Under a plan issued by the Tam Hiep Ward People's Committee, the free medical examination and screening program is being implemented across all 13 quarters of the ward through December 31, 2026. Residents can access health examination services at health stations, neighborhood cultural houses, community screening sites, or healthcare facilities participating in the program.

To ensure effective implementation, the Ward People's Committee mobilized the coordination of the Ward Health Station, the Ward Public Security, the Ward Military Command, specialized departments and divisions, the ward's Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, socio-political organizations, management boards of all 13 quarters, religious organizations, and other relevant parties.

Public and private healthcare facilities registering to support the initiative included Dong Nai Children's Hospital, Dong Nai-2 Hospital, 7B Military Hospital, Hanh Phuc General Clinic, Saigon Medical General Clinic, Saigon–Bien Hoa Eye Hospital, Long Binh General Clinic, and other facilities.

The program prioritizes elderly residents, people with meritorious services, people with disabilities, social welfare recipients, members of poor and near-poor households, people living alone, individuals facing difficult circumstances, those with health risk factors, and residents who have not undergone a health examination in 2026.

Residents have blood samples collected for free diagnostic testing at the Quarter 8 Office in Tam Hiep Ward. Photo: Hanh Dung

A key priority of the campaign is to integrate health examinations with the creation, updating and interconnection of electronic health records and electronic health books on the VNeID application. Ward police officers will assist residents with digital identification and the use of VNeID, while the health station and participating medical facilities will update clinical data in accordance with regulations. This will gradually build a comprehensive health database to support the ongoing management, monitoring and healthcare of residents.

* Also on November 1, the Long Hung Ward People's Committee coordinated a free health examination program for local residents at Ben Go Parish, the Quarter 5 Cultural House, and the Long Binh Tan Health Station.

During the program, residents received eye examinations, general internal medicine examinations, essential diagnostic tests, and health consultations. These services helped residents identify abnormal health signs and disease risks at an early stage, allowing them to determine appropriate monitoring and treatment measures. Residents also received advice on healthcare, disease prevention and healthy lifestyles, helping raise their awareness of the need to proactively protect their own health and that of their families. In addition to medical examinations and consultations, the program assisted residents in creating and updating their electronic health records on the VNeID application.

* From October 28 to November 1, the Song Ray Commune People's Committee organized a free health examination program for local residents at the Song Ray Commune Health Station during administrative working hours. Residents attending the health examinations were asked to bring their chip-embedded citizen identity cards so that their information could be fully and accurately entered into the system and updated in their electronic health books. Previously, the Commune Health Station had organized several health examination rounds in hamlets across the commune, sparing residents long journeys.

* On November 1, the Bom Bo Commune People's Committee organized a free routine health examination and screening program at the Hamlet 5 Cultural House. Residents received general health examinations, eye examinations, blood tests, ultrasound examinations, and other services.

Residents are provided with free health examinations in Bom Bo Commune.

Health examination activities were held from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. To facilitate the examination process, the Commune People's Committee advised residents to bring their citizen identity cards and smartphones, if available, so they could receive assistance in installing the VNeID application and updating their electronic health books.

* Also on November 1, the Dak O Commune People's Committee coordinated a health examination program for local residents at the branch campus of Dinh Bo Linh Primary School. Participants underwent disease screenings, ear, nose, throat and eye examinations, blood tests and ultrasound examinations, with electrocardiograms ordered as indicated. Their personal information was also updated in their electronic health records on the VNeID application to facilitate lifelong health management.

Residents in Dak O Commune receive free general health examinations and ultrasound examinations.

* From November 1 to 30, the Tan Khai Ward People's Committee is conducting a free health examination program for local residents daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eligible groups include people with meritorious services to the revolution, people with disabilities, members of near-poor households, residents aged 60 and older, minors under 18 who are not attending school, people without stable employment, informal workers, small vendors, farmers, fishermen, and homemakers. Residents receive examinations in seven medical specialties: internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, odonto-stomatology, otorhinolaryngology, and dermatology. They also undergo blood glucose, liver function, and kidney function tests; urinalysis; abdominal and thyroid ultrasound examinations; and electrocardiograms.

To date, more than 4.1 million residents across Dong Nai have received free routine health examinations and screenings, including health examinations and treatment covered by health insurance and other services provided in accordance with regulations. With the goal of ensuring that every resident undergoes at least one routine health checkup and screening in 2026 and has an electronic health book created and updated, relevant departments, sectors, and local authorities are accelerating implementation to meet the targets.

By Hanh Dung – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha