Universal health coverage in Viet Nam

Universal health coverage (UHC) means everyone – all individuals and communities – having access to quality, needed services that are affordable. The spectrum of services includes health promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. UHC serves as the overarching platform for achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UHC is not just about health financing – it reflects the importance of having equitable access to good quality health services and realizing the right to health, especially for vulnerable populations. Globally, countries monitor UHC through the service coverage delivery index (SDG target 3.8.1) and financial protection (SDG target 3.8.2) indicators, among other qualitative and quantitative measures.

Viet Nam is committed to accelerating UHC and strengthening primary health care as the foundation for UHC, especially when faced with emerging challenges of the rise of non-communicable diseases and increasing ageing population. It continues to make progress on addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, including the “missing middle.”