The Government has issued Resolution No. 21/2026/NQ-CP, signaling a major shift in healthcare administration by reducing administrative barriers and optimizing management. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, focus on empowering local authorities and eliminating outdated business conditions.
Enhancing local authority
A key pillar of this reform is the transfer of approval responsibilities from central agencies to the Chairmen of Provincial People’s Committees for several critical procedures:
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Practitioner Licensing: The entire process for issuing, renewing, adjusting, or revoking medical practice licenses (including certificates under previous laws) will be handled locally.
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Private Hospital Operations: Adjusting operating licenses for private hospitals regarding changes in name, address, or operating hours will now be managed at the provincial level.
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Food Safety and Disease Prevention: Authority to confirm advertising content for health supplements and permit the import of medical specimens is also fully decentralized.
Eliminating healthcare business barriers
The Resolution repeals numerous business conditions to create a more favorable environment for medical enterprises and organizations:
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Removal of biosafety conditions for laboratories and requirements for vaccination services.
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Eased regulations for health science practical training organizations.
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Simplified conditions for specialized services, such as opioid addiction treatment and HIV counseling and testing.
According to Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, the goal of this reform is the swift and substantive simplification of procedures, reducing the legal burden and promoting the development of both private and public healthcare systems.