Vietnam is developing rapidly. The country’s young and vibrant population has propelled the country to achieve success as a middle-income country but also increase inequalities within the country. Alongside its rapid economic development, Vietnam’s health system moves to remove barriers to achieve universal health coverage and access. The state of Vietnam’s health infrastructure is developing fast as well, but still forms a barrier to health access. Many hospitals are outdated and overcrowded and are in need of new medical equipment and more staff. Another barrier is a relatively high incidence of financial hardship as a result of relatively high out-of-pocket expenses on healthcare. To achieve universal health coverage, Vietnam has set ambitious goals to expand the coverage of health funding schemes and health infrastructure in both urban and rural areas.
Vietnamese policymakers work with growing but limited domestic health budgets. Together with involved international organisations, multilateral banks, NGOs and funding institutions, Vietnam, therefore, looks proactively at both decent equipment to supply its health system and disruptive technologies which increase the quality, accessibility and affordability of healthcare in Vietnam.
This report was commissioned by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) and is produced by the Task Force Health Care (TFHC) in cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Hanoi and Singapore and the Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City. It aims to align the respective Life Sciences & Health sectors of the Netherlands and Vietnam. In an effort to increase mutual understanding and inspire collaboration between these countries, this report provides useful insights into the Vietnamese health system and sector and identifies potential areas of cooperation.