According to the decree, this support level applies to groups of subjects including: very small ethnic minority women; women living in provinces and cities with a birth rate lower than the replacement birth rate; and women who have 2 children before the age of 35.
In case one person simultaneously belongs to multiple groups of subjects mentioned above, they will only be entitled to one level of support.
Support funds are guaranteed by the local budget. Payment will be made at the same time as birth registration through interconnected data from the birth registration system, the national population database and the VNeID electronic identification application.
Female workers giving birth to their second child are entitled to 7 months of maternity leave
The Decree also specifically stipulates the conditions for enjoying maternity leave when giving birth to a second child according to the Population Law.
Accordingly, female workers who have a second child are entitled to 7 months of maternity leave; male workers whose wives have a second child are entitled to 10 working days of leave.
The applicable condition is that at the time of birth, the mother already has a surviving biological child. For male workers, the condition is that the wife at the time of birth already has a surviving biological child.
Maternity leave is implemented according to the provisions of law on social insurance and the regime settlement process of the insurance agency.
However, in cases where the fetus is 22 weeks old or older but there is miscarriage, stillbirth or fetal death during labor, they will not be eligible for maternity leave when giving birth to a second child according to this new regulation.
Prenatal and neonatal screening support
In addition to the policy of supporting childbirth, Decree 168 also expands support for prenatal and newborn screening to improve population quality.
Specifically, pregnant women are supported in screening for 4 common congenital diseases including: Down syndrome, Edwards, Patau and Thalassemia.
Newborns are supported in screening for 5 diseases including: congenital hypothyroidism, G6PD deficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, congenital hearing loss and severe congenital heart abnormalities.
The maximum support level for prenatal screening is 900,000 VND/case; newborn screening is a maximum of 600,000 VND/case. This support is paid directly to the medical facility performing the service.
Prioritize free for vulnerable groups from mid-2026
According to the roadmap, from July 1, 2026 to the end of December 31, 2026, pregnant women and newborns from poor and near-poor households, social protection beneficiaries or living in particularly difficult areas, mountainous areas, border areas, and islands will be able to use free screening packages from the state budget.
From January 1, 2027, the support policy will be expanded to all pregnant women and newborns nationwide through the National Target Program on Healthcare, Population and Development for the period 2026 - 2035.
Decree 168/2026/ND-CP takes effect from July 1, 2026. Specifically, the regulations on supporting women to have 2 children before the age of 35 and women in localities with low birth rates will officially apply from January 1, 2027.
