Ho Chi Minh City brings free health checkups to elderly, disabled residents at home

At Phu Dinh Ward, mobile health teams have been formed to cover each neighborhood.

Working with local authorities, they identify residents who need in-home examinations.

Medical staff visit households to conduct full checkups, including medical history, clinical exams, vital signs, specialized consultations, lab samples, risk assessments, and health advice.

For patients showing abnormal signs, they are referred promptly to healthcare facilities for further monitoring and treatment.

The initiative marks a significant change in Vietnam’s healthcare delivery model, from waiting for patients to come to medical facilities, to proactively bringing services to them.

Officials described the initiative as a crucial step toward the city’s goal of ensuring 100 percent of residents receive regular health checkups, have electronic health records, and are continuously monitored throughout their lives.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thi, acting director of Phu Dinh Ward Medical Station, said: “For the elderly, disabled, and those unable to walk, we don’t wait for them to come to us. We go directly to their homes to provide care.”

All results are uploaded to the community health management platform and electronic health records. This allows local health stations to track chronic conditions, monitor risk factors, and intervene early at the grassroots level.