Vietnam aims for 15 doctors per 10,000 people by 2025

The current rate of 12.5, already up from 9.81 in 2020, puts Vietnam on par with India, higher than Indonesia, but lower than some countries such as Australia at 36, France 34, and China 22.

The current capacity for training doctors nationwide is about 13,000 graduates per year, according to the Health Ministry. This is the basis for Vietnam to achieve the goal of 15 doctors per 10,000 people by 2025, as per a government decision signed this week to approve the Health Network Planning for 2021-2030 and with a vision towards 2050.

The government also aims to achieve 25 nurses per 10,000 people by 2025, given the current nurse to population ratio in Vietnam is very low compared to the world, averaging 11.4 per 10,000 people.

Globally, there are three to four nurses per doctor, and in Japan, there are 9-10 nurses per doctor, while in Vietnam, there are less than two nurses per doctor.

Experts assess that the lower ratio of nurses and doctors compared to the global average leads to inadequate patient care.

The health ministry says it will gradually ensure the sufficient number and quality of healthcare staff at all levels, introduce appropriate remuneration policies and increase preferential allowances for preventive healthcare staff and primary healthcare.

It will also establish regulations to ensure hospitals' operational autonomy, contributing to increasing income for staff.