Discussing this issue, Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam - Chairman of the Vietnam Medical Union affirmed: To make workers feel not alone, the trade union organization must act substantively, regularly accompany and be ready to protect the legitimate rights of union members, especially the grassroots healthcare team, which is still in dire straits.
From "understanding" to "actual action
The health sector is inherently a special labor sector, where each official and employee has to face heavy pressure every day from fighting for the lives of patients. Union members and employees of the Vietnam Medical Union are working at hospitals, research institutes, schools and medical enterprises nationwide. This is a special labor force, always standing at the forefront in the cause of caring for, protecting and improving people's health.
However, accompanying that noble mission are invisible and tangible pressures weighing heavily on the shoulders of doctors. The question is how can each union member in the medical industry clearly feel that the trade union organization is truly their spiritual and material "backing point"?
Answering this concern, Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam frankly shared: "In my opinion, to make each union member feel that the trade union is truly a "backing point", first of all, the trade union organization must be closer to employees, understand employees more and act more substantively.
The Chairman of the Vietnam Medical Union emphasized that the role of the union cannot stop at superficial movement activities, or only appear during holidays, Tet, or when union members fall into extremely difficult circumstances.
To build sustainable trust, trade union organizations must establish a mechanism to regularly and continuously accompany union members in each specific and closest issue of daily life and work. That is the story of income, safe working conditions, occupational safety, housing, mental health and even fair job development opportunities for each individual.
Reality shows that the pressure of healthcare workers comes not only from expertise but also from social expectations and imminent occupational risks. They really need to be listened to, shared and protected in a timely manner.
When union members encounter difficulties and the trade union is present in time, when legitimate rights are voiced strongly and effectively, when employees feel they are not alone, then the trade union is truly a reliable support," Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam affirmed. The timely presence and firm voice of the trade union in protecting against injustices or risks are the greatest spiritual medicine to help doctors and nurses feel secure in contributing.
Strong towards grassroots
Besides the general pressures of the entire industry, the grassroots healthcare segment is emerging as a hot spot requiring special intervention and support. The grassroots healthcare team - especially in remote, isolated, and areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, is currently facing countless major challenges in terms of both income and working environment.
Sharing about this situation, Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam expressed deep sympathy: "We are very sympathetic to the difficulties of the grassroots healthcare team, especially in remote and isolated areas, areas with shortage of human resources and limited professional conditions. This is a force that is directly taking care of people's primary health but still suffers many disadvantages.
Faced with that situation, how to make the voices of the "white-shirted soldiers" at the front lines heard more and more thoroughly? The head of the Vietnam Medical Union has outlined strategic and specific steps in the coming time.
First, promote policy recommendations at the macro level. The Vietnam Medical Union is committed to continuing to actively and persistently propose to the Party, State, National Assembly, Government and Ministry of Health. The goal is to build and promulgate fundamental and long-term policies on salaries, professional allowances, duty allowances, epidemic prevention regimes as well as other specific mechanisms specifically for medical staff. This is the root solution to improve material life and ensure fairness for their contributions.
Second, diversify and modernize information receiving channels. To prevent any opinions from being missed, the trade union will strengthen channels for receiving direct feedback from the grassroots level. This innovation helps the voices, thoughts and grievances of health workers to be reflected in the most truthful, objective and timely way to higher management levels, eliminating intermediate administrative barriers.
Third, change the operating method according to the motto "strong towards grassroots level". This is considered a guiding principle for the action of the trade union organization in the new period. According to Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam, trade union officials cannot just sit in the office to listen to reports, but must really go to the place, approach the places where workers are facing the most difficulties.
We also determine that we must innovate our operating methods in the direction of'strong towards grassroots levels', so that trade union officials can truly go to the places where workers are in the most difficult situation, listen on the spot, dialogue on the spot and protect their rights through specific actions," emphasized the Chairman of the Vietnam Medical Union.
It is direct dialogue at the "scene", listening to the heartfelt confidences of grassroots healthcare workers that will help the trade union have vivid practical data. From there, support programs, new policy recommendations are highly practical, definitively resolving the bottlenecks that workers are facing.
Data on care for workers from the beginning of 2026 to now
- During the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year 2026, the Vietnam Medical Union supported 21,814 union members with an amount of 5,544,140,000 VND, of which 5,469,140,000 was deducted from the financial source of the Vietnam Medical Union.
- Caring activities in Workers' Month, Action Month on Occupational Safety and Health in 2026: as of May 19, 2026, the Vietnam Medical Union supported more than 500 union members and workers in difficult circumstances, suffering from dangerous diseases, labor accidents, and occupational diseases with an amount of over 1 billion VND.
