Dong Thap Spends Over 537 Billion VND on Free Health Checkups and Screenings
(DTO) The Director of Dong Thap Province’s Department of Health has signed Plan No. 5965/KH-SYT, revising and supplementing the 2026 program to provide free periodic health checkups and screenings for residents across the province.
Under the revised plan, Dong Thap aims to achieve universal primary healthcare coverage, with 100% of eligible beneficiaries receiving services in accordance with Government Decree No. 165/2026/ND-CP.
The updated program prioritizes policy beneficiaries and vulnerable groups, including people with meritorious service to the nation, people with disabilities receiving care in the community or at social assistance facilities, members of poor and near-poor households, and seniors aged 60 and above.
Residents in special areas such as island communes and regions with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, as well as employees, civil servants, public officials, preschool children, and school students, are also among the key beneficiaries.
According to the Statistics Office, Dong Thap has a population of more than 3.4 million. The program is expected to provide free periodic health checkups and screenings for about 1,867,841 people in priority groups supported by the state budget, along with approximately 1,977,913 people from other social groups. The province-wide program has been underway since May 25, 2026.
A key feature of the revised plan is the introduction of standardized medical procedures tailored to different age groups. Children under six will receive comprehensive pediatric examinations in line with Ministry of Health guidelines. For those aged 6 to under 18, specialist clinical examinations will be conducted in accordance with the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, while laboratory tests will be provided based on voluntary payment or available local funding.
Adults aged 18 and above will receive general clinical examinations covering internal medicine, surgery, dermatology, and obstetrics and gynecology, along with basic laboratory tests, including blood glucose, urea, creatinine, SGOT, and SGPT, to assess liver and kidney function and screen for common metabolic diseases.
The total estimated budget for the province-wide healthcare program in 2026 exceeds 537 billion VND. Of this, more than 178 billion VND will come from the state budget to cover policy beneficiaries, while over 359 billion VND will be financed through employers, the health insurance fund, and other lawful funding sources.
The cost of each periodic health checkup or screening will not exceed 350,000 VND per person per year. The basic clinical examination fee is set at 187,620 VND for adults aged 18 and above, 75,620 VND for those aged 6 to under 18, and 36,500 VND per visit for children under 6.
By THUY HA - THANH HOANG
Translated by ANH DUC
