More than 19,000 TB cases detected in 2025
According to reported data from the National Tuberculosis Prevention Program, in 2025, the whole country detected more than 110,000 TB patients, accounting for about 63% of the estimated new cases in the community. This is the highest result ever, an increase of about 5% compared to 2024.
The rate of TB patients with bacterial evidence reached 75%, an increase of 3% compared to the previous year. The rate of successful treatment reached 90%, higher than the global average of 88%.
However, the burden of tuberculosis in Vietnam is still very large. According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2025, Vietnam has about 184,000 new TB patients, 9,400 drug-resistant TB patients and about 12,000 deaths from tuberculosis each year. Vietnam currently ranks 12th among the 30 countries with the highest TB burden in the world and 10th among the 30 countries with the highest drug-resistant TB burden.
Notably, the Southern region is currently the place with the highest number of tuberculosis cases detected in the country, accounting for about 60% of the total number of tuberculosis cases detected nationwide. This is considered an area that needs to prioritize investment resources to improve the effectiveness of tuberculosis prevention and control.
Many people have not undergone periodic tuberculosis screening
According to Dr. Dinh Van Luong, Director of the Central Lung Hospital, Head of the National Tuberculosis Prevention Program, tuberculosis screening has not yet been fully included in the list of initial health check-ups and periodic health check-ups. Meanwhile, the 2024 census shows that only about 23% of people are examined and treated, while tens of millions of people, even with jobs and annual periodic health check-ups, may still miss the content of tuberculosis screening.
From this reality, the tuberculosis prevention industry estimates that there are still about 40-50% of the population who have not fully accessed tuberculosis screening.
To overcome this gap, the National Lung Hospital - National Tuberculosis Prevention Program proposed that the Ministry of Health direct the integration of tuberculosis screening in periodic health check-ups and annual free screenings; supplement the content of tuberculosis screening into health certificates and periodic health check-up books; update training requirements on tuberculosis control for the team of doctors examining patients.
Along with that is the proposal to integrate tuberculosis monitoring into electronic health records, integrate tuberculosis screening with respiratory diseases at grassroots health facilities, requiring medical examination and treatment facilities to be responsible for receiving and screening tuberculosis in regular medical examination and treatment, and at the same time ensure funding for screening, detection and treatment activities.
In recent years, tuberculosis prevention and control has received special attention from the Party and State through many important policies and directives such as Official Dispatch No. 25/CD-TTg, Official Dispatch No. 1393/TTg-KGVX of the Prime Minister, and professional decisions of the Ministry of Health on guiding the diagnosis, treatment and detection of tuberculosis associated with medical examination and treatment facilities.
In particular, in 2026, the Ministry of Health issued an official dispatch to strengthen tuberculosis prevention and control, requesting localities to realize major goals on early detection, effective treatment and control of spread in the community.
To achieve the goal of ending tuberculosis by 2030, the important thing is not only medical capacity but also the strong commitment of leaders at all levels, the coordination of ministries, sectors, localities and the participation of the whole society. Early detection of cases through periodic health check-ups will be one of the key solutions to reduce infection, reduce mortality and reduce the burden of tuberculosis in Vietnam.
On March 24, 2026, the National Lung Hospital - National Tuberculosis Control Program will organize the Ceremony to celebrate World Tuberculosis Day. In which, the action message emphasized is "Yes! We Can End TB! Led by Countries! Powered by People!".
In 2026, Vietnam chose the theme: "Detecting TB associated with periodic health check-ups for each citizen" as a systematic strategic orientation, showing the determination to strongly shift from "treatment" to "prevention".
Accordingly, from 2026, people will have periodic health check-ups or free screenings at least once a year. This creates opportunities for early detection of many diseases, including tuberculosis, a dangerous disease that can be cured if detected promptly.
