Breakthrough opportunities for grassroots healthcare system

Currently, in Dong Nai province, the healthcare system includes central, provincial, and regional hospitals, 95 commune/ward health stations, and 176 satellite clinics. The healthcare system, spreading from urban to rural and border areas, has partly met the medical examination and treatment needs of the people.

Information about Resolution 72 is spreading quickly, bringing joy and hope to many patients. In the photo: A doctor from the General Internal Medicine Department, Binh Phuoc General Hospital, checks a dialysis machine for a patient. Photo: Xuan Tuc

However, as one of the leading provinces nationwide in terms of economic scale, population, and area, Dong Nai is focusing on solutions and leveraging all resources to invest in the healthcare sector so that its development matches the province’s potential and status; aiming to be a solid pillar of social welfare, ensuring health security, and simultaneously a special service industry contributing to the province's economic growth.

A "major overhaul" from the grassroots healthcare system

Located in a remote and disadvantaged area, with nearly 20% of the population being ethnic minorities, thanks to investment in both facilities and human resources, Loc Quang Commune Health Station is known as a bright spot in public healthcare.

Dr. Tran Van Thi, Specialist Level I, Head of Loc Quang Commune Health Station, said: Due to the challenging terrain and difficult living conditions of the people, bringing children to the health station for vaccination is a concern for many families. Faced with this situation, in 2024, the station boldly implemented a mobile vaccination model in hamlets with a high proportion of ethnic minority residents, where the annual vaccination rate for children was low. After more than a year of implementation, the situation quickly improved, and currently, the full vaccination rate for children of ethnic minorities in the commune has increased from 50% to 70%, striving to reach 80% by the end of 2025.

In our country today, health insurance coverage is at 94% of the population, including many groups of informal workers, near-poor people, and people in difficult areas who do not have the conditions to participate in health insurance. Therefore, if free medical examinations and annual health check-ups for all citizens are implemented according to Resolution 72, it will help reduce the financial burden and create conditions for people, especially those in difficult circumstances, to easily access high-quality medical services.

Currently, Dong Nai province has 22 regional medical centers, 95 commune/ward health stations, and 176 satellite clinics. The widespread development of the healthcare facility network has contributed to meeting the primary healthcare needs of the people.

Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Truong Son stated: The investment of resources to upgrade the grassroots healthcare system in recent times has received special attention from provincial leadership. In the 2020-2025 period alone, 30 health stations in the province have been newly built, and 43 health stations have been repaired and upgraded with full accompanying equipment. Of these, the Ministry of Health and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have supported the province in building 20 new health stations; repairing and renovating 25 health stations with full accompanying equipment. This has contributed to improving the quality of medical examination and treatment at the grassroots levels.

This work is consistent with the orientation in Resolution 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025, of the Politburo on some breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care, and improvement of people's health (Resolution 72). At the Conference to review the program on developing the grassroots healthcare network in disadvantaged areas, which just took place in Dong Nai, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen stated: Grassroots healthcare is the foundation of the national healthcare system and needs comprehensive investment in facilities, equipment, and human resources.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen, Resolution No. 72 proposes many breakthrough solutions, emphasizing comprehensive investment in the grassroots healthcare system; reorganize the healthcare system according to the 2-tier local government model. In the immediate future, from 2025 to 2030, each year, localities will rotate and assign at least 1,000 doctors to work temporarily at commune health stations, supplementing permanent doctors at health stations. 100% of commune-level health stations will be invested in facilities, medical equipment, and human resources according to their functions and tasks. By 2027, each commune health station will have at least 4-5 doctors.

Bringing the resolution into practice as soon as possible

The breakthrough point of Resolution 72 also lies in lifelong healthcare and financial assurance for the people. From 2026, all citizens will receive free periodic health check-ups at least once a year, moving towards enjoying basic free hospital fees by 2030. This is not only a humane reform but also helps reduce the burden on higher-level hospitals and encourages people to get early check-ups and timely treatment.

At hospitals, information about Resolution 72 is quickly spreading, bringing joy and hope to many patients, especially those in difficult circumstances.

Nearly 5 years of undergoing hemodialysis have taken away time, money, and health of Trinh Thi Thu (residing in Hamlet 3, Dong Tam Commune, Dong Nai Province). When she heard that all citizens would soon receive free periodic health check-ups or free screening at least once a year, and that, in the longer term, basic hospital fees would be waived within the scope of health insurance benefits according to the roadmap, Thu expressed her joy, because it is not only a policy but also a comfort and a source of encouragement for her to continue fighting against her illness.

"Dialysis is very expensive, out of 30 days in a month, I spend 12 days eating hospital food, so I don't have time to work anymore. I hope Resolution 72 will soon come into effect to reduce the financial pressure on my family," Thu wished.

Doctor Le Van Trung, Department of General Internal Medicine, Binh Phuoc General Hospital, said: There have been many cases where the disease became severe when admitted to the hospital for treatment, partly because people were subjective, and partly because they were afraid of the cost. Therefore, what I appreciate most about Resolution 72 is that all people have the opportunity to access basic medical services through free periodic health check-ups. This is extremely important, because regular health check-ups help detect diseases early, enabling timely prevention and treatment, both protecting people’s health and reducing treatment costs.

From the plains to the mountainous regions, from large hospitals to communal health stations, people's trust in an equitable and sustainable healthcare system is gradually taking shape. Dong Nai, with its determination to invest in infrastructure and the Central Government's groundbreaking policies, is seizing the opportunity to become a bright spot in universal healthcare, contributing to elevating the development of medical services to a new level - where every citizen is protected, treated, and accompanied throughout their lives.

By Xuan Tuc – Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha