The year 2025 marked a historic turning point as Ho Chi Minh City’s healthcare system officially began operating within a megacity framework, serving a population of over 14 million following administrative expansions.
Multi-polar governance and new primary care structure To adapt to the burgeoning population, the city shifted toward a “multi-tier, multi-polar, and multi-center” healthcare model. A key highlight is the establishment of 168 medical stations under commune-level People’s Committees as of January 1, 2026. These units serve as the primary “point of contact,” focusing on chronic disease management, elderly care, and community health surveillance at the household level.
Advancements in specialized and high-tech medicine The city’s medical capacity reached new heights with several pioneering achievements:
-
Medical Breakthroughs: Successful implementation of fetal cardiac interventions, out-of-hospital E-CPR using mobile ECMO, and complex microsurgical procedures.
-
Modern Infrastructure: The completion of major gateway hospitals in Thu Duc and other peripheral districts has significantly reduced the load on the city center. The opening of Tu Du Hospital (Campus 2) and the Tan Kien specialized medical cluster established “medical campuses” that integrate treatment, training, and research.
-
Comprehensive Digitalization: Electronic health records have been implemented across nearly all facilities, supported by a shared database and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for epidemiology and hospital administration.
Social welfare and extending services to remote areas The healthcare sector expanded its scope to include social welfare responsibilities. Public hospitals now provide direct medical support to vulnerable groups at social protection centers. Furthermore, the rotation of specialists to Con Dao Island has enabled local handling of critical emergencies, reducing the necessity of inland transfers.
Strengthening the legal framework During this period, the City People’s Council passed 25 resolutions dedicated to healthcare and social security. This established a comprehensive legal corridor, ensuring synchronized management and operation as the city expands, with a primary focus on people-centered policies.
Source: https://vnexpress.net/dau-an-y-te-tp-hcm-giai-doan-sieu-do-thi-5000832.html