Vietnam: Healthcare Boost for Lunar New Year 2026 – Emergency Services & Inspections
In preparation for the 2026 Lunar New Year, also known as Tet, Vietnamese health officials are enacting measures to bolster emergency medical services and healthcare access. These directives, issued by Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan, who also chairs the National Medical Council, aim to ensure adequate healthcare provision during the holiday period.
Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure for Tet
The actions align with several governmental guidelines, including Central Committee Directive No. 55-CT/TW concerning the 2026 Lunar New Year, Prime Minister Directive No. 36/CT-TTg for a joyful, healthy, safe, and economical Tet celebration, and Ministry of Health Directive No. 03/CT-BYT dated January 28, 2026, focused on reinforcing health-related efforts for a safe Tet.
To effectively serve the public, the Ministry of Health is requesting that hospitals under its jurisdiction, along with health departments in cities and provinces, and health units within various ministries and agencies, implement a 24/7, four-tiered emergency response system. This system encompasses command leadership, specialized medical personnel, administrative and logistical support, and safety and self-defense protocols.
Hospitals are instructed to post on-duty staff lists in each department and ward, and to efficiently organize patient admissions, emergency care, and treatment. This includes proactively securing sufficient personnel, medications, blood products, intravenous fluids, supplies, chemicals, medical equipment, and medical oxygen. Preparation also includes establishing dedicated beds and facilities for patients with injuries from traffic accidents, fires, and food poisoning.
Healthcare facilities are also directed to promptly hospitalize and treat patients with infectious diseases common during winter and spring, aiming to reduce severe complications and fatalities.
Preparedness for Potential Emergencies
Officials are emphasizing the need for contingency plans to address potential accidents, poisonings, and large-scale emergencies. Specific plans are to be developed for crowded tourist destinations, performance venues, and event locations during the Tet and holiday season.
Beyond clinical readiness, healthcare personnel are encouraged to visit and celebrate Tet with patients hospitalized during the holiday, with particular attention given to those facing economic hardship or receiving social welfare assistance.
The Ministry of Health requires daily online reporting from all hospitals with inpatient beds through the Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department’s online system. Reports must include summaries of emergency situations, details of medical examinations and treatments, and comprehensive patient lists. Specific reporting requirements exist for incidents involving fireworks, homemade explosives, traffic accidents (with mandatory reporting of fatalities or severe cases), and other injuries.
In cases of severe fatalities, the Ministry of Health requests separate reporting to the cause-of-death management subsystem within the medical examination and treatment management portal (cdc.kcb.vn), following guidelines outlined in Decision No. 1996/QD-BYT dated June 18, 2025, and Official Dispatch No. 24/2020/TT-BYT dated December 28, 2020.
The Ministry of Health also stated that unannounced inspections will be conducted at hospitals under its authority, as well as provincial and local hospitals, to assess their readiness before and after the Tet holiday.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the four-tiered emergency response system?
The four-tiered system is designed to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive response to emergencies, encompassing leadership, specialized medical care, logistical support, and safety measures.
What types of incidents require specific reporting?
Incidents requiring reporting include those involving fireworks, homemade explosives, traffic accidents resulting in fatalities or severe injuries, and other cases requiring hospitalization or emergency treatment.
What is expected of healthcare personnel during the Tet holiday?
Healthcare personnel are expected to ensure adequate staffing and resources, provide care to patients, and celebrate Tet with hospitalized patients, particularly those in vulnerable situations.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, it remains to be seen how effectively these measures will be implemented and whether they will be sufficient to meet the healthcare needs of the population during this traditionally busy period. Further monitoring and evaluation will likely be necessary to assess the impact of these directives.