In the context where disease patterns are shifting clearly with the increase of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases, the role of nutrition is increasingly affirmed as a pillar in preventive medicine. The Disease Prevention Law No. 114/2025/QH15, passed by the National Assembly, has dedicated Chapter IV to specifically stipulating “Nutrition in disease prevention”. This is an important legal basis for medical staff to implement professional activities, from community counseling to clinical intervention, aiming to improve the entire population’s health.

Core principles: Lifecycle-based nutrition and suitability

According to regulations in Article 34 of the Disease Prevention Law, nutritional activities in disease prevention are not just cross-sectional interventions but must be implemented throughout the lifecycle of a human. Medical staff need to note that the nutritional regimen must ensure “rationality”, meaning not only meeting physiological needs but also fitting the physical condition, culture, and specific economic conditions of Vietnamese people.

Especially, the Law emphasizes the paramount importance of the “nutrition in the first 1000 days of life” stage, calculated from when the fetus starts forming until the child turns 24 months old. This is the golden window deciding long-term physical and intellectual development, demanding special attention in counseling and medical intervention work.

Implementation measures include screening examinations to assess nutritional status, counseling and guidance on rational diets, and health education communication. Depending on each subject and age group, nutritional interventions will be adjusted to fit the actual situation.

Priority target groups in nutritional intervention

The 2025 Disease Prevention Law clearly delineates responsibilities and nutritional measures for three main target groups that medical staff need to master to counsel accurately:

First, for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children

This is a vulnerable group needing the most active intervention. Besides general professional measures, the State has specific support policies for especially difficult cases, such as poor households, near-poor households, ethnic minorities in remote, isolated, border, or island areas, or areas that experience natural disasters or catastrophes. This ensures equity in accessing preventive health services.

Second, for people of working age

Nutritional work for this group is implemented and integrated right during the medical examination and treatment process. This sets a requirement for clinicians to combine nutritional counseling as a part of the overall treatment protocol. Additionally, at units organizing collective kitchens, employers must be responsible for ensuring food safety and rational nutrition in the rations of workers.

Third, for the elderly

Nutritional care for the elderly needs to focus on maintaining health and preventing chronic diseases. The Law clearly stipulates the responsibility of elderly care facilities in ensuring rational nutritional regimens, suitable for the physiological changes of old age.

Conclusion and practice orientation

The legalization of regulations on nutrition in disease prevention is an important step forward, shifting from recommendations to legal liability. For medical staff, the task does not stop at treating diseases but must proactively assess, counsel, and intervene in nutrition according to regulations. Mastering the contents in Chapter IV of the Law on Disease Prevention will help us perform the preventive medicine function well, contributing to minimizing the disease burden for the community.

Dr. Truong Hong Son – Director of the Center for Support & Continuing Education