Hanoi offers free health check-ups to 9.2mn residents

The initiative, which took effect on July 1, is being implemented under the Politburo’s Resolution 72.

According to the municipal Department of Health, the program is available to all people living in the capital, including permanent residents and those who have held temporary residence for at least 12 months, provided their residency is verified through the national VNeID digital identification system.

The city’s population will be divided into five groups for the roll-out.

Priority will initially be given to nearly 1.7 million people in the first group, including the elderly, people with disabilities, poor and near-poor households, individuals with meritorious service, patients with chronic illnesses, and residents of disadvantaged areas.

More than two million people, including children under six and workers in the informal sector such as street vendors and freelance laborers, will also receive early access to health screenings.

Authorities will place special emphasis on residents living in 16 communes and wards along the Red River, including Hong Ha, O Dien, Thuong Cat, Dong Ngac, Phu Thuong, Linh Nam, Thanh Tri, Nam Phu, Hong Van, Me Linh, Thien Loc, Vinh Thanh, Dong Anh, Bo De, Long Bien, and Bat Trang.

The department has assigned major hospitals and general clinics to dispatch medical teams and provide equipment to local health stations and hospitals to support the program.

Local authorities have also been instructed to compile and verify lists of eligible residents to ensure no beneficiaries are overlooked and to prevent duplicate registrations.

Healthcare workers across the city have received professional training on conducting health examinations and disease screening, while examination results will be uploaded to residents' electronic health records.

Expanded health insurance support

In addition to the free health screening program, Hanoi has introduced broader financial support for health insurance and voluntary social insurance beginning Wednesday.

Accordingly, the city will fully subsidize health insurance premiums for several groups not covered by mandatory health insurance.

These include residents aged 60 to under 75, population collaborators, veterinary workers, residents of Minh Chau Island Commune, individuals receiving care at charitable and religious facilities, and members of veterans' organizations, former military personnel, former public security officers, former youth volunteers, and Hanoi artisans who do not already possess health insurance cards.

The city will also cover an additional 70 percent of health insurance premiums for households engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries with average living standards, as well as victims of post-war landmines and unexploded ordnance.

A further 50 percent subsidy will be provided to students from these households, village healthcare workers, village midwives, part-time community officials, holders of the titles ‘People's Artisan’ and ‘Meritorious Artisan,’ and victims of human trafficking during the first year after official identification.

Higher voluntary social insurance subsidies

Hanoi has also increased financial support for voluntary social insurance contributions to encourage greater long-term participation.

Poor and near-poor households will now receive subsidies covering 100 percent of their contributions.

Other participants will receive support equal to 40 percent of their contributions.

Former veterans, former military personnel, former public security officers, and former youth volunteers will be eligible for a 50-percent subsidy, while ethnic minority residents will receive support covering 60 percent of their contributions.

The new measures are expected to expand health and social insurance coverage, reduce the financial burden of healthcare, and enable more workers to qualify for pensions and health insurance benefits in retirement.