Elevating Governance Capacity and Comprehensively Executing Health Sector Goals for 2026

On the morning of September 16, Mr. Tran Duy Dong—Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee—chaired a conference to hear the Department of Health report on the status of task performance over the first 8 months and key orientations and solutions for the final months of 2026.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong chairs the conference.

Also attending were Mr. Nguyen Khac Hieu—Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; leadership of the Party Committee of the Provincial People’s Committee; leaders of departments and sectors; and directors of hospitals affiliated with the Department of Health.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Hieu speaks at the conference.

During the first 8 months of 2026, the Phu Tho Department of Health proactively and flexibly completed 5 out of 5 advisory tasks under the working program of the Provincial People’s Committee.

Notable achievements included completing the Implementation Plan for the National Target Program on Healthcare, Population, and Development for the 2026–2035 period; the Implementation Plan for the Population and Development Program through 2030; the Action Program Action For Children for the 2026–2030 period; and issuing the List of Local-Level Centralized Procurement Pharmaceuticals.

Director of the Department of Health Le Hong Trung reports at the conference.

To date, the Phu Tho health sector has completed 6 out of 8 target indicators for 2026, featuring outstanding results: reaching 14 doctors per 10,000 residents (exceeding assigned targets); reaching 47 hospital beds per 10,000 residents (exceeding assigned targets); health insurance coverage reaching 93.77% of the population (equivalent to 3.5 million people); total medical examination visits exceeding 2.86 million (reaching 83% of the annual plan); and an average hospital bed occupancy rate of 75%. The program for periodic health check-ups and free screenings for residents was stepped up, projected to reach 65.85% of the annual plan by the end of August 2026.

In particular, Phu Tho became a national “bright spot” in digital transformation breakthroughs, with 100% of public medical examination and treatment facilities (61 out of 61 units) successfully deploying electronic medical records (EMR), completing the rollout ahead of the Ministry of Health’s roadmap.

The sector integrated 1.45 million Electronic Health Records onto the VNeID application (reaching 36.6% of the population). Preventive health work and food safety were strictly controlled, preventing disease outbreaks.

Regarding public investment capital disbursement, total assigned capital in 2026 for 9 projects stands at 29.97 billion VND; estimated disbursement as of September 30 reaches 72%, and the entire sector commits to 100% disbursement in October 2026.

Concurrently, the sector is actively preparing resources to upgrade and develop 3 hospitals assuming regional functions: the Provincial General Hospital, the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, and establishing the new Phu Tho Provincial Oncology Hospital.

Leaders of departments and sectors express opinions at the conference.

Discussing at the conference, delegates focused on clarifying obstacles related to medical service pricing mechanisms; periodic health check-up payment mechanisms; ODA project progress; infrastructure and equipment investment; and human resource attraction policies for grassroots healthcare...

Delivering concluding remarks, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong acknowledged and praised the efforts of the cadres, doctors, and staff of the health sector over recent times.

Highlighting key tasks moving forward, the Provincial Chairman emphasized: The entire health sector must uphold a spirit of unity, assign clear people, clear tasks, and clear responsibilities, and absolutely prevent any disruption or negative impact on the quality of medical examination and treatment for the people.

Overview of the conference.

The Provincial Chairman requested the health sector to continue elevating head accountability in areas of public asset management, public investment, bidding, and procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

He directed the sector to thoroughly grasp the principle of preventing negative practices and violations while simultaneously eliminating mindsets of “fear of wrongdoing and stagnation.” Public investment disbursement and professional target indicators must be incorporated into emulation evaluations and head classifications.

The Provincial Chairman requested the health sector to focus on accelerating ODA projects. In particular, it must focus on consolidating the Management Board for the KfW (German Reconstruction Credit Institute) ODA Project prior to September 20 to finalize loan procedures in November 2026. It must present the proposal for the Austrian Government ODA Project before September 20 and continue promoting ADB loan capital to expand the Provincial General Hospital. The Smart Healthcare Project must be approved prior to September 30.

Alongside this, the sector must review financial autonomy levels at struggling health centers to adjust decentralization appropriately. The Department of Finance and the Provincial Development Investment Fund were directed to provide definitive guidance and answers regarding support mechanisms to resolve difficulties for socialized hospitals.

The Provincial Chairman requested the Department of Health and hospitals to focus on developing specialized, high-level medical techniques at the provincial level alongside strengthening grassroots healthcare capacity to reduce upper-level transfer pressures.

Units must effectively execute Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW of the Politburo on protecting, caring for, and improving the people’s health. At the same time, appropriate remuneration policies must be promulgated to attract and retain high-quality human resources.

Dinh Vu