Law on Disease Prevention – A New Step Forward in Public Healthcare

Along with advances in medicine and improved living conditions, Vietnam is now facing both infectious and non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, cancer, and mental disorders). Treating diseases is costly, time-consuming, and has a significant impact on quality of life. Therefore, “prevention is better than cure” is no longer a mere slogan but an urgent necessity in terms of health, economy, and society.

Accordingly, the drafting of the Law on Disease Prevention aims to institutionalize the Party’s and the State’s guidelines and policies on public health care, as affirmed in the Constitution; Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017 of the 12th Party Central Committee; Directive No. 25-CT/TW dated October 25, 2023 of the Party Secretariat; and the instructions of the General Secretary provided in Notification No. 176-TB/VPTW dated April 25, 2025 and Document No. 15845-CV/VPTW dated July 3, 2025, particularly Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025 of the Politburo on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care, and improvement of the people’s health. The law seeks to enhance the physical and mental well-being, stature, and healthy lifespan of Vietnamese citizens; to establish systems for regular health screening, periodic check-ups, and personal health information management; and to promote the role of communities, families, schools, and living environments in disease prevention and control.

The draft Law on Disease Prevention was reviewed by the National Assembly Standing Committee at its 50th session. The draft consists of six chapters and 41 articles, comprehensively regulating the prevention of infectious and non-communicable diseases, mental health, nutrition, lifestyle habits, and environmental risk factors.

A notable highlight of the draft is the provision of free annual health check-ups or screenings for all citizens. This aims to enable early detection and timely intervention, reduce medical costs, and improve quality of life.

In addition, the draft law stipulates the development of an electronic health record system to track and manage each individual’s health information throughout their life, moving toward basic hospital fee exemptions within the health insurance coverage by 2030.

The law also proposes the establishment of a National Disease Prevention Fund to mobilize resources from both the state and society to implement proactive prevention campaigns and activities.

Presenting the preliminary appraisal report on the draft Law on Disease Prevention, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh stated that the Standing Committee on Culture and Society basically agreed with the scope of regulation and subjects of application as specified in the Government’s submission. However, some opinions held that the field of disease prevention has a broad scope, affecting all people under various conditions and living circumstances. Although certain laws, such as the Law on Food Safety, the Law on Occupational Safety and Hygiene, the Law on Sports, and the Law on Water Resources, already contain provisions related to disease prevention and health promotion, the fact that the draft Law only regulates issues not yet covered by other laws may not fully ensure the comprehensiveness required for this field.

In his directive remarks at the session on the draft Law on Disease Prevention, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases No. 03/2007/QH12, after 17 years of implementation, remains in effect. Therefore, in drafting the new Law on Disease Prevention, it is necessary to review its contents carefully to avoid overlapping with the provisions of the existing Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases.

“The Law on Disease Prevention must be developed in a practical, non-formalistic manner; avoid overlapping with the existing Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases; and ensure compatibility with actual conditions, local resources, and the medical capacity of each region,” emphasized National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

The primary goal is to safeguard public health first and foremost, thereby contributing positively to economic development — as a healthy population forms the foundation for labor, production, creativity, and sustainable growth. Not only the State but also every family and individual is expected to take a more proactive role in disease prevention: maintaining a healthy lifestyle, undergoing regular health check-ups, participating in vaccination and screening programs, and monitoring living environments and nutrition.

The draft Law on Disease Prevention is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for review and approval at the end of 2025. Once officially promulgated, relevant authorities will coordinate to implement its provisions in practice — from grassroots healthcare units, hospitals, and schools to workplaces and communities.

The Law on Disease Prevention will serve as a crucial tool enabling citizens to “take control of their own health.” Its adoption also demonstrates the State’s determination to safeguard public health — one of the pillars of sustainable development.

Every citizen is encouraged to play an active role in disease prevention: maintaining regular health care, a balanced diet and exercise routine, environmental hygiene, full immunization, and early detection of abnormalities for timely treatment.