The Government has officially issued Resolution No. 21/2026/NQ-CP, marking a significant shift in healthcare administration. This resolution focuses on streamlining procedures and redistributing authority to provincial levels, effective from July 1, 2026, to foster a more efficient operational environment for the medical sector.
Transfer of authority to provincial levels
A key pillar of the resolution is the delegation of approval powers from central agencies to the Chairmen of Provincial People’s Committees across several critical areas:
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Medical Licensing: The issuance, renewal, adjustment, and revocation of medical practice licenses will now be handled at the provincial level.
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Healthcare Facility Management: Provincial authorities will oversee adjustments to operating licenses for private hospitals, specifically regarding changes in name, address, or working hours.
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Food Safety and Disease Prevention: Local governments are now responsible for approving health supplement advertisements and granting permits for infectious specimen imports.
Removal of restrictive business conditions
The resolution rescinds numerous business conditions to ease the burden on healthcare providers, including:
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Regulations on laboratory biosafety and vaccination services.
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Requirements for clinical training institutions within the health sciences sector.
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Conditions for opioid addiction treatment services and HIV counseling/testing services.
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Various criteria related to the provision of medical examination and treatment services previously stipulated in earlier decrees.
These reforms are expected to significantly reduce administrative lead times for healthcare organizations, ensuring a more proactive and responsive healthcare system nationwide.