Guidelines for the professional content of periodic health examinations for children under 6 years old (Decision 1284/QD-BYT)
Recently, Dr. Vu Manh Ha, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister of Health, signed and promulgated Decision 1284/QD-BYT. This decision provides detailed guidelines on the professional content for periodic health examinations for children under 6 years old nationwide, with a frequency of at least once a year.
The health examination includes a comprehensive assessment of the child’s physical and mental condition: checking vital signs, nutritional status, mental and motor development, and vaccination progress. Doctors also conduct general physical examinations and check organ systems such as skin, head and neck, eyes, ear-nose-throat, maxillofacial, respiratory, cardiovascular, abdominal, genital, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems. In particular, the new guidelines add a psychological test to detect the risk of autism early, specifically applied to children aged 16 to 30 months.
To implement this effectively, the Ministry of Health requires medical facilities to formulate detailed plans, widely inform parents and guardians about the specific examination schedule by geographical area, and arrange a scientific examination flow. Participating personnel must include doctors with appropriate practicing certificates or licenses, along with a team of medical assistants, nurses, and midwives to measure indicators, and support staff who have undergone professional training as prescribed.
Ministry of Health leaders visit and encourage abused pediatric patients at Children’s Hospital 1
On May 8, a working delegation of the Ministry of Health led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Tri Thuc visited and encouraged a pediatric patient who was a victim in the child abuse case that shocked the public (occurring in Ba Ria – Vung Tau), currently being treated at Children’s Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The visit was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Health Office in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, and the National Fund for Vietnamese Children.
According to the report from the medical team, the patient, over 2 years old, was hospitalized with a tiny body and had to struggle with many serious injuries after being brutally abused. Over many days of intensive treatment, the doctors and nurses have made every effort to save the child. The working delegation expressed their deep sorrow at the patient’s condition and highly appreciated the efforts of the medical staff at Children’s Hospital 1 in their journey to save the child’s life.
Inspecting food safety in Vinh Long province
On the afternoon of May 7, the Central Inter-sectoral Inspection Delegation on food safety led by Mr. Bui Duc Lap, Deputy Director of the Food Safety Authority (Ministry of Health), had a working session with the Inter-sectoral Steering Committee on food safety of Vinh Long province. Receiving the delegation was Ms. Nguyen Thi Be Muoi, Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Vinh Long province.
In response to the Action Month for Food Safety in 2026, Vinh Long province has established inter-sectoral inspection delegations from the provincial to the commune and ward levels. As of May 4, through the inspection of 21 food production and business establishments in the area, the authorities recorded 13 establishments meeting the standards. For the 8 violating establishments, the main issues focused on inadequate hygiene conditions in the processing area, failure to fully implement the 3-step food inspection process, an inappropriate layout failing to prevent cross-contamination, and the use of expired certificates of food safety eligibility. All violating establishments have been recorded and administratively sanctioned.
Center for Support & Continuing Education