Phu Tho Finalizes Plan for Free Periodic Health Check-ups and Screening in 2026

On June 24, Nguyen Huy Ngoc, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee, chaired a meeting to review a draft plan for implementing free periodic health check-ups and health screening for residents across the province in 2026.

Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Huy Ngoc delivers directives at the meeting.

According to the draft plan, all residents of Phu Tho Province will be entitled to at least one free periodic health check-up or health screening during the year. The initiative aims to facilitate early disease detection, prevention and treatment, reduce the burden of illness and healthcare costs, and build a national health database to support lifelong healthcare management for the population.

The program will be implemented across all 148 communes and wards, as well as government agencies, organizations, enterprises and other employers throughout the province, covering five target groups.

Under the proposed roadmap, periodic health check-ups for officials, civil servants, public employees, workers in state agencies and members of the armed forces are expected to be completed before July 31, 2026. Health examinations for students will be completed by September 30, while at least 80 percent of employees in enterprises are expected to receive periodic health check-ups by the end of the third quarter. The remaining target groups are scheduled to complete their examinations before December 5, 2026.

All health examination data will be digitized and integrated into the provincial healthcare database as well as the electronic health record available through the VNeID application, providing a foundation for long-term health monitoring and management.

Addressing the meeting, Vice Chairman Nguyen Huy Ngoc acknowledged the efforts made by the Department of Health and relevant agencies in preparing the draft plan. He requested that the plan be further refined before official issuance to ensure its practical feasibility. Budget allocation and payment mechanisms should be designed to facilitate implementation while fully complying with legal regulations.

The Vice Chairman also instructed relevant agencies to continue reviewing, updating and improving healthcare databases. He emphasized that all healthcare providers, including private hospitals and clinics, must submit medical examination and treatment data in accordance with regulations. Relevant agencies were requested to closely follow guidance and reporting templates issued by the Ministry of Health while developing a unified set of provincial forms to ensure consistent implementation throughout the province.

In addition, he called on the health sector to consider implementing the program in appropriate phases before launching the province-wide free periodic health check-up and screening campaign for all residents.

Ngoc Anh