Right from the first day of implementation, records at many locations showed that the staff were responsible, the procedures were handled quickly, creating satisfaction and peace of mind for the people.
On the same morning, Yen Hoa General Clinic, under the old Cau Giay District Medical Center, still maintained normal medical examination and treatment activities. A day, the clinic receives nearly 300 cases, mainly people participating in health insurance (HI). Currently, the facility is managing more than 97,000 health insurance cards.
This morning, Ms. Le Thi Van (residing in lane 98 Xuan Thuy, Nghia Do ward, Hanoi) went to Yen Hoa General Clinic to carry out procedures to transfer health insurance. "Everything went very quickly and smoothly. The reception of medical examination records, issuance of documents, and health insurance confirmation are all enthusiastically supported by staff, not leaving people waiting too long, Ms. Van shared.
MSc. Dr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan - Director of Yen Hoa General Clinic - informed: The Hanoi People's Committee has issued Official Letter No. 3695/UBND-SNV, guiding the establishment of specialized agencies and public service units under the People's Committees of new communes and wards. This organization and arrangement helps medical facilities maintain stable operations in the process of transforming the government model.
According to statistics from the Hanoi Health Sector, the whole city currently manages 43 public hospitals, 30 district and county health centers and 526 commune and ward health stations. The Department of Health is organizing the reception of medical centers after rearranging 126 new medical stations from the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities. At the same time, the Department of Health coordinates with the People's Committees of communes and wards to develop and submit to the City People's Committee for approval the Regulations on coordination in the management and operation of local health stations.
Some localities such as Hanoi and Thai Nguyen have issued documents asking for guidance on the arrangement of commune and ward health stations and regional general clinics. The Ministry of Health requests that provinces and cities continue to implement according to Official Dispatch No. 2147/BYT-TCCB dated April 12, 2025 and Official Dispatch No. 68/CV-BCD dated May 28, 2025 of the Steering Committee for the arrangement of administrative units, and at the same time, based on the actual situation to advise the provincial People's Committees to give specific instructions.
The Ministry of Health emphasized that it is necessary to stabilize the system of public health service units, only conducting reorganization when absolutely necessary, while ensuring that the rights of medical examination and treatment of the people are not affected. The transfer of district-level health centers to the Department of Health for management aims to organize services on an inter-commune and ward scale, more facilitating the direction and coordination of resources.
The system of commune, ward, town health stations and regional general clinics continue to be under the health center. If the arrangement is carried out, the locality can combine the old health stations into a new station, while maintaining the examination points in the old area so that people do not have interrupted access to health services. During the implementation process, if difficulties or problems arise, the Departments of Health need to promptly report to the Ministry of Health for guidance on how to resolve them.
Based on the area and population size, the provincial People's Committee can establish a public service unit under the People's Committee of the new commune or ward to perform the task of preventing and controlling the initial health care. District-level health centers and general hospitals will be transferred to the Department of Health for management and organization of service provision in inter-commune and ward areas.
At the same time, Vietnam Social Insurance has requested local Social Insurance to proactively coordinate with the Department of Health and health insurance medical examination and treatment facilities, ensuring the rights of patients in the process of reorganizing administrative units into two levels. Facilities continue to use existing health insurance cards, urgently appraise and settle costs in the second quarter and advance payment in the third quarter of 2025; arrange human resources to support people in completing procedures to avoid congestion.
Social Insurance also requested the Department of Health to complete legal documents to sign new or supplement contracts with health facilities that are being rearranged, ensuring continuity and transparency in paying for health insurance examination and treatment costs.
The Ministry of Health also recommends that health stations should carefully review the current status of operations, improve prevention capacity, and manage public health. The integration of family clinics and specialties at health stations will help people access high-tech services right at the facility, contributing to improving the quality of primary health care.
