People hope for sustainable healthcare

Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW (Resolution No. 72), issued by the Politburo on September 9, 2025, outlines several breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care, and improvement of public health, drawing significant public attention across the province.

The breakthrough solutions outlined in Resolution No. 72 are expected to create the best possible conditions for all citizens to access healthcare services, enhance physical well-being, and proactively prevent illness. In the photo: People receiving medical examination and treatment at Dong Nai General Hospital. Photo: Hanh Dung

Sharing with Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television, many readers, viewers, and listeners have commented that the resolution’s content reflects a humanitarian approach with long-term and sustainable significance, particularly for patients in challenging circumstances. People hope that the breakthrough solutions introduced in Resolution No. 72 will create optimal conditions for everyone to access healthcare services, enhance their physical well-being, and proactively prevent diseases.

A humanitarian resolution

Ngo Thanh Sang, a resident of Tam Hiep ward in Dong Nai province, shared that what he values most in Resolution No. 72 is its focus on enabling people to access quality medical services and comprehensive healthcare. Starting in 2026, citizens will receive free annual health check-ups or screenings, have electronic health records established to manage their health throughout their life cycle, and gradually see a reduction in medical expenses.

“This clearly demonstrates the deep, specific and practical concern of the Party and State for all classes of people, ensuring fairness in access to healthcare services. As a result, low-income earners and those in difficult circumstances will have more opportunities to receive regular health care, proactively prevent diseases, and improve their quality of life,” Sang said.

Sharing the same perspective as Sang, many readers expressed their delight and expectations that the breakthrough solutions outlined in Resolution No. 72 to strengthen the protection, care, and improvement of public health will be executed according to the set roadmap. Specifically, by 2030, citizens will be exempted from basic hospital fees within the coverage of health insurance benefits. Concurrently, all commune-level health stations nationwide will receive synchronous investment in facilities, equipment and human resources aligned with their designated functions and tasks. The resolution aims for over 95% of the population to participate in health insurance by 2026, with the goal of achieving universal health insurance coverage by 2030. Additionally, various types of health insurance will be developed to diversify options for the public.

Although partially covered by health insurance, Nguyen Xuan Anh, a resident of Trang Dai ward in Dong Nai province, whose mother is undergoing cancer treatment at Dong Nai General Hospital, still faces significant financial hardship related to medication and medical supplies during her treatment. Upon learning about Resolution No. 72, he could not hide his joy and hope. He said, “This new policy is truly humanitarian. It not only helps reduce the financial burden on families like mine but also gives me greater faith and motivation to support my mother through her illness.”

Sustainable healthcare development

Believing that Resolution No. 72 will be effective once implemented, Nguyen Thi Bich Huyen, a resident of Trang Dai ward, expressed her delight upon learning that, starting in 2026, citizens will receive free annual health check-ups or screenings and have electronic health records to manage their health throughout their lifetime, gradually reducing the burden of medical costs.

Huyen greatly valued this provision of Resolution No. 72, highlighting its profound importance in fostering disease prevention rather than treatment. She stated that this approach will enable individuals to maintain a healthy body, free from illness, while also saving money and time.

“The implementation of free regular health check-ups and screenings is a valuable opportunity for individuals to detect serious illnesses early, especially non-communicable diseases such as cancer, hypertension, and diabetes. This initiative will enable earlier access to medical care, improve treatment success rates, and reduce the financial burden on both patients and the healthcare system. I believe that if the resolution is effectively executed, it will represent a significant advancement in disease prevention, improving the quality of life and the average life expectancy of the Vietnamese population,” Huyen confided.

Assessing the contents of Resolution No. 72 issued by the Politburo, Nguyen Van Dung, MSc, Level-II Specialist Doctor at Binh Dan Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, stated that the document embodies profound humanitarian values and is highly feasible. He emphasized that the resolution positions people as the central subjects and top priority in policies regarding physical and mental healthcare, serving as a sound and appropriate direction. Healthcare policies, he noted, can only be truly effective when they are closely aligned with the actual needs and practical interests of the community.

When people are placed at the center, the healthcare system will be designed to be more service-oriented, friendly, accessible, and equitable. At the same time, greater emphasis will be placed on disease prevention and physical well-being, rather than focusing solely on treatment and cure. Doctors will benefit from improved working conditions and a more professional environment, which will help ease their workload.

Resolution No. 72 also opens up opportunities to boost investment in infrastructure, equipment, training, and remuneration policies, key factors that enable medical staff to fully realize their professional potential. Notably, promoting preventive healthcare and primary care will support more effective resource allocation, reduce overcrowding at higher-level hospitals, and, in turn, improve treatment quality and morale among doctors.

Assessing the contents of Resolution No. 72 issued by the Politburo, many experts believe the document reflects profound humanitarian values and has strong practical viability. However, to translate its goals into reality, the entire political system must undergo substantial innovation in leadership mindset, strategic direction, and implementation mechanisms.

In practice, when Party committees, authorities, and cadres fully recognize the central role of public healthcare and actively integrate health-related targets into socio-economic development strategies, the effectiveness of implementation will become more evident and sustainable.

Director of the Dong Nai Department of Health DO THI NGUYEN:

The resolution holds strategic and proactive significance

Resolution No. 72 of the Politburo holds significant importance for the advancement of Dong Nai’s healthcare sector. It establishes a foundation for strategic breakthroughs and reshapes the future of Dong Nai’s healthcare system, strongly transforming it from a passive model into a proactive, modern, and intelligent one. The resolution also signifies a shift in mindset, moving from a primary focus on medical treatment to prioritizing disease prevention, with people at the center to protect, care for, and enhance their health comprehensively and continuously throughout all stages of life.

Resolution No. 72 has outlined guiding perspectives and established important goals, tasks, and strategic solutions for protecting, caring for, and enhancing the health of people. In Dong Nai, the Department of Health has identified and articulated clear strategic and breakthrough goals and tasks, with the aim of building a modern and comprehensive healthcare system aligned with the province’s socio-economic development situation for the 2025-2030 period, with a vision toward 2045. Among its strategic priorities, the Department will concentrate on three breakthrough missions: the first is to establish, refine, and enhance the capacity of preventive medicine and the grassroots health system; the second is to cultivate high-quality human resources; and the third is to modernize health infrastructure while advancing science, technology, innovation, and comprehensive digital transformation in healthcare to create a modern and intelligent healthcare system.

The ultimate goal of establishing a modern and intelligent healthcare system in Dong Nai is to ensure comprehensive and continuous health protection and care at every stage of life, enabling all citizens, from urban to rural areas, to lead healthy and happy lives. This mission is not only the responsibility of Dong Nai’s healthcare sector but also a collective commitment of the entire political system and society, as clearly articulated in the guiding viewpoints of the Politburo in Resolution No. 72.

By Kim Lieu – Translated by Huyen Trang, Minho