Key Development
On the afternoon of August 25, 2026, Permanent Vice Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha, MD, PhD chaired a high-level drafting committee meeting to refine the pending Circular Regulating the Principles for Developing and Updating the List of Medical Equipment Covered by Health Insurance (VHI).
Draft Structure & Core Revisions:
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Regulatory Framework: The current draft comprises 4 chapters and 9 articles detailing the structure of the formulary, principles for adding or removing medical devices, and establishing conditions, ratios, and reimbursement limits.
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“Accurate, Sufficient & Scientific” Baseline: Delegates agreed that the Circular must focus on broad, guiding principles rather than rigid, overly detailed micro-management that hinders hospital operations. Standardized comparative templates and scientific evaluation criteria will be mandated for reimbursement approvals.
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Digital Transformation Integration: The Vice Minister directed the Health Insurance Department to collaborate with the National Health Information Center to embed IT requirements into the draft, providing the legal basis to synchronize clinical data directly with the VHI automated billing and auditing systems.
Why It Matters
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Protecting Patient Access & Fund Solvency: Including advanced medical devices and consumables in the reimbursement list improves clinical outcomes. However, without stringent scientific criteria, the VHI fund risks severe financial depletion due to over-prescription or irrational technology utilization. This Circular acts as a critical financial gatekeeper.
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Resolving Administrative Bottlenecks for Hospitals: Healthcare facilities frequently face rejected claims (xuất toán) for medical supplies due to overlapping or ambiguous regulations. Merging redundant clauses (Articles 2 and 3) and clarifying the frequency, timelines, and data submission processes will create a transparent legal corridor, protecting hospitals from retroactive financial penalties.
Healthcare Insight Analysis
From the perspective of Healthcare Insight, the August 25, 2026 drafting session reflects a strategic shift toward Value-Based Medical Technology Assessment (HTA) & Digital Billing Governance.
The regulatory body is addressing three systemic challenges:
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Institutionalizing Health Technology Assessment (HTA): Mandating “comparative templates and specific evaluation criteria” signals the MOH’s transition toward utilizing HTA frameworks to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and clinical superiority of devices before granting reimbursement status.
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Automating Claim Adjudication: Interoperability between Hospital Information Systems (HIS) and the Vietnam Social Security (VSS) auditing portal is a critical operational imperative. The new Circular will establish the legal foundation for a unified, nationwide medical device coding taxonomy.
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Agile Governance Frameworks: By removing overly rigid provisions, the MOH ensures the Circular remains adaptable to the rapid pace of MedTech innovation, avoiding the need for continuous legislative amendments as new technologies enter the market.
Market Implications
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Stricter Market Access Criteria for MedTech Manufacturers: Medical device manufacturers and distributors will be required to present robust clinical evidence and health economic data to secure inclusion on the VHI reimbursement list.
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Hospital IT Infrastructure Upgrades: Healthcare facilities and HIS software vendors must update their platforms to synchronize with the new national medical device coding structures, ensuring seamless integration with VSS auditing portals.
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Reduction in Billing Disputes: A clear, principle-based framework will significantly reduce claim rejections and financial disputes over consumable reimbursements between public hospitals and the social insurance agency.
Draft Circular Matrix: VHI Medical Device Formulary (August 2026)
| Draft Component | Proposed Revisions & Directives | Practical Operational Impact |
| Legal Structure | 4 Chapters, 9 Articles (Proposing merger of Art. 2 & 3) | Enhances logical flow; removes administrative redundancy. |
| Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria | Mandates comparative forms & scientific standards | Curbs over-utilization; ensures VHI fund sustainability. |
| Regulatory Flexibility | Focus on general principles; avoid rigid micromanagement | Prevents operational bottlenecks for clinical facilities. |
| Execution Pathways | Define frequency, timelines, and data ingestion processes | Provides a transparent, predictable reimbursement roadmap. |
| Digital Health Integration | Interoperability between clinical data and VHI portals | Enables automated electronic auditing and claim adjudication. |