The Ho Chi Minh City government is intensifying a national health check-up campaign targeting an ambitious goal: providing free medical services to 15 million residents by 2026. As of early July, a total of 251,409 residents have received health services, with a significant upward trend in participation in recent weeks.
Although daily check-ups reached 13,994 in early July, the citywide cumulative coverage has only reached 1.8 percent of the total population. This figure reflects a stark disparity in progress across regions, where some areas have recorded coverage above 20 percent, while many other areas remain below the one percent threshold.
The Con Dao Special Zone currently leads the effort, having reached 35.4 percent of its residents. The success of high-performing areas is generally driven by strong synergy between local government, medical facilities, and local community leaders. Flexibility in examination mechanisms and effective public communication are key factors making it easier for residents to access healthcare services.
Conversely, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health highlighted that 41 wards and communes still have very low participation rates. In response, health authorities urged lagging local governments to immediately conduct thorough evaluations and improve outreach strategies to eliminate access barriers.
This mass screening program is not just a routine health agenda, but a strategic step toward a community-centered preventive care system. Through the implementation of comprehensive electronic health records, the city government aims to achieve sustainable health management for all residents in the long term.
