As of January 1, 2026, the healthcare system in Ho Chi Minh City has officially entered a new operational phase with a significant shift in the management of local medical units.
Reorganization of medical stations According to the municipal administration’s decision, 38 regional health centers previously managed by the Department of Health are being dissolved or restructured. Specifically, 168 medical stations will now operate under the direct authority of People’s Committees at the ward, commune, and district levels. This transition aims to enhance local governmental oversight and ensure that primary healthcare services remain closely aligned with the specific needs of local residents.
Classification and conversion roadmap The transfer of personnel, assets, and medical resources is categorized into two main groups:
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Non-bed health centers: Fully transferring all existing resources to ward-level medical stations.
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Health centers with inpatient beds: Handing over a portion of staff, medication, and supplies to local stations. These 13 specific units will be integrated into a roadmap to become independent hospitals or secondary branches of major hospitals, in accordance with the city’s healthcare network planning.
Ensuring continuity of medical care During the final days of 2025, the inventory of medical records and equipment transfers were conducted urgently across areas such as Thu Duc, Binh Chanh, and Go Vap. Authorities emphasized that while administrative and organizational structures are changing, daily medical examinations and treatments will remain uninterrupted to ensure consistent healthcare services for the public throughout the transition.