In 2026, the Ministry of Health issued a document signed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong – Deputy Minister of Health, sent to the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities. The document focuses on the synchronous implementation of key tasks in the fields of social security and social vice prevention. The core objective is to ensure that 100% of eligible individuals receive assistance policies and to provide timely support to people affected by natural disasters and epidemics.
Ensuring Comprehensive Social Assistance Policies, Prioritizing Vulnerable Groups
Implementing Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP of 2026 on social security, the Ministry of Health requests localities to closely follow the Conclusions of General Secretary To Lam on the care of children in special circumstances and persons with disabilities. Localities must proactively monitor the development of natural disasters, epidemics, and force majeure events to inform and guide people in prevention. At the same time, they must allocate local budgets and mobilize social resources to overcome consequences and provide timely relief.
The requirement is to ensure that 100% of eligible subjects enjoy social assistance and social pension policies as prescribed in Decree No. 20/2021/ND-CP and Decree No. 176/2025/ND-CP. The monthly payment of allowances and the issuance of health insurance cards must be implemented promptly, prioritizing non-cash payment methods. Localities also need to regularly review food shortages during between-crop periods and floods, prioritizing support for children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. The nurturing regime at public and non-public social assistance facilities must be guaranteed in accordance with regulations and suitable to local realities.
Caring for and Promoting the Role of the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities
Provinces and cities need to effectively implement the Law on the Elderly, the National Strategy on the Elderly until 2035, and Directive No. 35/CT-TTg on adapting to population aging. Consolidating the local Working Committee for the Elderly, mobilizing resources to issue health insurance cards, and eliminating temporary housing are key tasks. It is necessary to plan a network of care facilities, nursing homes, and community centers, and promote solutions to develop the silver economy, contributing to local socio-economic development.
For persons with disabilities, it is necessary to comply with Directive No. 39-CT/TW, the Law on Persons with Disabilities, and the Assistance Program for Persons with Disabilities for the 2021-2030 period. Functional agencies must proactively plan to organize the Vietnam Day of Persons with Disabilities and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities to raise awareness and foster the companionship of the whole society.
Developing Social Work and Preventing Social Vices
Continue to implement the Social Work Development Program, along with social assistance and rehabilitation for people with mental illnesses and autistic children, for the 2021-2030 period. Localities must deploy the Planning of the social assistance facility network according to Decision No. 966/QD-TTg, invest in upgrading protection facilities, develop a professional social work workforce, and fully implement allowance regimes for staff working at these public facilities.
In the prevention and control of social vices, it is necessary to develop a plan to prevent prostitution, strengthen specialized inspections of sensitive business establishments according to Decree No. 217/2025/ND-CP, and maintain harm reduction and intervention models. Inter-sectoral coordination in protecting, receiving, and supporting victims of human trafficking must be heavily promoted. Communication about cyber fraud schemes, forced labor, and piloting community integration models for victims is extremely urgent in the current context.
Synchronous Management of Social Security Data
The Ministry of Health requires all levels to urge the review, cleaning, and updating of data in the Social Protection Databases (including data on persons with disabilities, protection beneficiaries, and social workers). Updated information must absolutely ensure the criteria of being Correct, Complete, Clean, Alive, Unified, Shared, Synchronous, and Seamless. This data will serve to connect with the National Population Database and the Health Sector Database to simplify administrative procedures and improve the efficiency of social security management on digital platforms.
Center for Support & Continuous Education – According to the Vietnam Ministry of Health