The report presented at the conference indicates that in 2024, the health sector successfully achieved all three primary socio-economic targets assigned by the National Assembly for the year. Notably, it exceeded two targets concerning the number of doctors per ten thousand people and the number of hospital beds per ten thousand people. The sector also met the target for the population coverage under health insurance. Additionally, it achieved or surpassed eight out of nine major objectives set by the Government for the year.

Leadership and administration were carried out decisively and comprehensively in line with the identified tasks and solutions. The Ministry of Health focused on directing, guiding, and gradually resolving challenges and obstacles. Simultaneously, it enhanced inspection and supervision of task implementation, particularly in the areas of policy development, epidemic prevention and control, food safety assurance, addressing shortages of drugs and medical equipment, administrative reform, and overcoming difficulties in implementing programs and projects.

Policy development remained a key focus, with significant progress achieved. Notably, for the first time, the Ministry of Health drafted and recommended two laws for approval by the National Assembly in a single session: the amended Law on Pharmacy and the amended Law on Health Insurance.

Infectious diseases were effectively controlled, with no significant outbreaks or clusters occurring within communities. The Ministry collaborated with local governments to ensure vaccination efforts, combat endemic and emerging infectious diseases, and enhance medical examination and treatment services. Quality and efficiency were elevated with a patient-centered approach, aiming to increase patient satisfaction. Advanced medical techniques were successfully applied. The healthcare system transitioned from four administrative levels to three technical levels as per the revised Law on Medical Examination and Treatment. Efforts were also made to expand satellite hospitals and establish family medicine clinics.

The Ministry prioritized the expansion of telemedicine services, enhanced technical transfers, and timely support for lower-tier facilities and localities. The number of licensed hospitals increased significantly, and the approval process became more efficient. Private healthcare facilities grew both in number and scale, now accounting for 384 private hospitals, representing 22.3% of the total number of hospitals. Traditional medicine development continued, integrating traditional and modern medical practices.

The health sector also implemented effective programs and projects on population management, focusing on the Vietnamese Population Strategy to 2030, the Program for Adjusting Fertility Rates by Region and Group until 2030, and the Project to Control Gender Imbalance at Birth. These efforts aimed to maximize the demographic dividend and adapt to an aging population. Organizational restructuring of the healthcare system progressed, with solutions implemented to strengthen grassroots healthcare following Directive No. 25 issued on October 2023, by the Secretariat. Additionally, the Ministry of Health is urgently and rigorously addressing tasks transferred from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs as directed by the General Secretary and the Government.

For 2025, the health sector seeks continued support and guidance from the Party, State, Government, and Prime Minister, along with collaboration from all levels of government, sectors, and localities. Public cooperation and consensus are crucial to improving health services for the population.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long acknowledged and commended the achievements of the health sector in 2024. Looking ahead, he emphasized the need to accelerate institutional and legal reforms, addressing challenges to develop a high-quality, efficient, equitable, transparent, and sustainable healthcare system. The Ministry of Health is tasked with ensuring the timely and quality completion of laws, projects, and policies in its legislative agenda for 2025. This includes drafting and implementing guidelines for the revised Law on Pharmacy, the amended Law on Health Insurance, and the revised Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, as well as continuing work on the Law on Disease Prevention, the Law on Population, the Law on Medical Equipment, and the Law on Food Safety.

Additionally, the Ministry must incorporate health-related content into the socio-economic report for the Fourteenth National Party Congress. Efforts should focus on restructuring the Ministry of Health to ensure a streamlined, effective, and efficient organization in line with directives from the Central Steering Committee and the Government. It is essential to implement the health facility network plan for the 2021-2030, with a vision toward 2050, and the hospital restructuring plan for 2023 to 2030. Administrative reform, resource allocation, and enhanced inspection and supervision should accompany decentralization efforts.

The health sector must also monitor global and regional disease trends, improve forecasting and surveillance capabilities, and proactively control epidemics and public health emergencies. Continued reforms in the financial mechanisms of public health units are necessary, including a roadmap for incorporating management costs into medical service pricing and achieving universal health insurance. Investments in healthcare projects should be accelerated, and the efficiency of capital usage must be improved, including financial autonomy for health facilities. Adjustments to health insurance coverage for drugs, chemicals, medical supplies, and services should ensure the rights of participants while meeting professional standards in medical treatment.

Efforts must be intensified to advance digital healthcare, enhance science and technology activities, and foster innovation within the sector. The Ministry should finalize legal provisions related to specialized healthcare training, establish competency standards and training program criteria, and support capacity building in underprivileged areas.

The Ministry of Health must also complete a revised fertility adjustment program for different regions and groups until twenty thirty, ensuring sustainable national fertility rates. Focus areas include maternal and child health, elderly care, and addressing gender imbalance at birth. Policies must be developed to adapt to population aging, capitalize on the demographic dividend, and improve medical services. Satellite hospitals, telemedicine, technical transfers, and security at health facilities should all be expanded and enhanced.

Finally, the ministry must ensure the availability of quality, safe, effective, and reasonably priced medicines, vaccines, medical supplies, and equipment for disease prevention and emergency situations.