Under the newly issued Resolution 21/2026/NQ-CP, the Vietnamese government has mandated a significant decentralization of authority regarding medical licensing, shifting the responsibility to provincial-level leaders to streamline administrative processes.
1. Full Decentralization to Provincial Chairmen
Effective July 1, 2026, the Ministry of Health (MoH) will officially stop issuing medical practice licenses and certificates to individuals. This authority is transferred to the Chairmen of Provincial People’s Committees, covering:
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Issuance, renewal, re-issuance, and adjustment of practice licenses.
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Suspension or revocation of licenses (including those issued under previous regulations).
2. Adjusted Scope of the Ministry of Health
The MoH will pivot toward macro-management and oversight of specialized or ministerial-level facilities:
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Issuing operating licenses and adjusting specialized technical categories for private hospitals.
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Direct oversight (issuance, re-issuance, adjustment) of operating licenses for hospitals directly under the Ministry.
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Evaluating and approving new medical techniques and methods nationwide.
3. Streamlined Administrative Timeline
The resolution introduces strict deadlines to ensure transparency and efficiency:
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Facility Appraisal: Must be conducted within 40 days of receiving a valid application.
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Licensing Deadline: Once appraisal is successful, the license must be issued within 10 working days.
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Correction Process: Any required amendments must be clearly stated in the appraisal minutes. Licenses must be finalized within 10 days after the applicant proves corrections have been made.
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Public Disclosure: Within 05 working days of licensing, facility details (name, address, person in charge, scope of work) must be published on official digital portals.
4. Effective Period
The decentralization provisions take effect on July 1, 2026. The overall resolution remains effective from April 29, 2026, through January 1, 2028.
This shift marks a major milestone in healthcare administration, promising faster processing times and greater accountability at the local level for healthcare professionals and institutions.