The health sector is entering a phase of vigorous restructuring of the public service unit system, aiming for a lean and effective apparatus that meets the increasing healthcare needs of the people. Rearranging the system is not merely about reducing the number of units but focuses on restructuring functions, tasks, decentralizing management, and allocating resources rationally.

The consistent orientation of this process is to gradually transfer several hospitals directly under the Ministry of Health to local management. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health will focus on managing specialized, high-tech, and leading hospitals. This ensures the effective performance of tasks such as professional guidance, high-quality human resource training, scientific research, technology transfer, and coordinating disease prevention and control in emergency situations.

Objectives of restructuring the public health system

One of the key highlights in this rearrangement phase is the Ministry of Health’s implementation of merging directly-managed hospitals into training institutions to strengthen the connection between theoretical training and clinical practice.

Specifically, Hospital 71 Central and the Central Rehabilitation Hospital will be merged into Hanoi Medical University. Simultaneously, the Medical Equipment Technical Vocational College will be merged into Viet Duc University Hospital to form the Viet Duc Medical and Equipment College. This model is expected to create an optimal practice environment for students while utilizing the team of experts and highly qualified lecturers to directly participate in medical examination and treatment.

Implementation roadmap and ensuring continuity in healthcare

Implementing Resolution No. 72 of the Politburo and Plan No. 130 of the Government Steering Committee, the rearrangement roadmap is being strictly implemented, ensuring the principles of a lean apparatus and improved operational efficiency. A prerequisite is that the transition process must not interrupt medical examination and treatment activities for the people.

Practical implementation shows that after the rearrangement, many hospitals have expanded their professional scope, improved service quality, and increased patients’ access to specialized techniques. Streamlining intermediate focal points helps concentrate resources directly on professional work and investment in modern equipment.

Rearranging the preventive medicine and testing system

Not stopping at the medical examination and treatment system, the rearrangement is also being implemented synchronously in the fields of preventive medicine, testing, and training. Units with similar functions will be consolidated to increase scale and response capacity.

Reorganizing the preventive medicine system helps improve the capacity for rapid response to emerging diseases and emergency public health situations. As the system becomes more methodically organized, service quality is expected to improve significantly, contributing to reducing overload at higher levels and enhancing professional capacity for lower levels, ensuring fairness in healthcare for all citizens.

Center for Support & Continuing Education – According to the Vietnam Ministry of Health