People are excited
This is a large-scale community health campaign, providing free disease screening services for about 10,000 people. The event is organized by the Ministry of Health in coordination with the Vietnam Young Physicians Association to respond to the National Health Day.
Receiving information from the residential group, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Minh (Vinh Hung ward, Hanoi) participated in the festival to be examined for free. Here, she received many services such as ultrasound, X-ray, blood sugar check-up. Ms. Minh said that she previously paid little attention to periodic health check-ups, but through this check-up, she discovered some issues that needed to be monitored. "I did not go for regular check-ups, but today I was taken a lung X-ray, thyroid ultrasound. After checking, the doctor discovered that the thyroid gland had a nodule. When examining bones and joints, it was also discovered signs of mild osteoporosis" - Ms. Minh shared.
Like Ms. Minh, after measuring blood sugar, bone examination and lung check-up, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien (Hanoi) was prescribed by a doctor for cervical cancer screening. Ms. Lien said that she used to be reluctant to go for health check-ups, but through this activity, she realized that she needed to pay more attention to her health. "I hope this activity will be maintained annually so that more people have the opportunity to be examined" - Ms. Lien said.
According to BSCKI Vo Thi Bich Ngoc (NTD AI Healthcare Technology Joint Stock Company), the festival aims to encourage people to have periodic health check-ups to detect diseases early, change their thinking from "if there is disease, then cure" to proactive screening and control of risk factors, especially for non-communicable diseases in the elderly. At the same time, the event contributes to raising awareness about the role of physical training and reasonable nutrition.
From movement activities to long-term policies
A noteworthy point is that free medical examination activities are no longer isolated, but are being institutionalized into policies. The Hanoi People's Committee has assigned the Department of Health to develop a plan for periodic health check-ups or free screening once a year for people.
In the plan, the city requests that in the first quarter of 2026, the Department of Health take the lead in reviewing and evaluating the current status of infrastructure and medical equipment at affiliated units, proposing investment, construction, renovation, and upgrade plans to meet the needs of medical examination and treatment to serve the people.
At the same time, standardize the processes of receiving and guiding patients, medical examination and treatment procedures; implement publicity and transparency of procedures; strengthen administrative discipline and order; improve public service ethics, service attitude and quality of medical examination and treatment services at medical facilities...
Also according to the plan, Hanoi requires that from March, it will pilot the application of artificial intelligence (AI) at Duc Giang General Hospital, Xanh Pon General Hospital, Hanoi Oncology Hospital, in which AI is used to analyze images (X-ray, CT, MRI... ) to detect early cancer, stroke, cardiovascular diseases and support doctors in making clinical decisions. At the same time, build a set of physical fitness - stature criteria for Hanoi students.
To meet the task of primary health care, managing people's health according to the life cycle, the Hanoi People's Committee requests 126 communes and wards to invest in upgrading infrastructure, medical equipment, and human resources for health stations to ensure standards according to regulations to perform the task of primary health care, managing people's health according to the life cycle.
Notably, in the second quarter of 2026, Hanoi assigned the Department of Health to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Finance, Hanoi City Social Insurance and related agencies to have a plan to conduct periodic health check-ups or free screenings once a year for city residents.
By the end of 2026, Hanoi requires the Department of Health to complete the document approving the construction of Xanh Pon General Hospital, Thanh Nhan Hospital, Hanoi Oncology Hospital to become smart hospitals...
Reality from programs in Hanoi shows that when cost barriers are removed, people are willing to participate and change their health care habits. This is the foundation for building a proactive disease prevention society.
To go long-term, policies need to be designed methodically, with a roadmap and guaranteed resources. Free examination is only a starting point; the ultimate goal is a fair, effective and sustainable healthcare system, where all people are fully, continuously and quality healthcared.
