Doctors of Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital providing health checkup consultations to residents of Linh Son Ward

Early health care, starting from the grassroots level

These days, at the Linh Son Ward Health Station, the atmosphere of the health checkups is always busy and orderly. From the very start of working hours, large numbers of residents are present to register and wait for their turn to have their blood pressure measured, give test samples, undergo ultrasounds, and complete the prescribed screening procedures. In the examination area, medical staff and doctors attentively guide, advise, and explain results to each individual. Elderly people are assisted with movement; cases with underlying conditions are monitored more closely; and cases in which abnormal signs are detected are advised on referral or in-depth follow-up. All activities take place quickly and methodically while still remaining thorough, giving residents peace of mind.

For many people, this is the first time they have taken part in a free general health checkup with multiple components right in their own locality. The program therefore not only helps residents understand their own health status, but also contributes to building the habit of proactive disease prevention and periodic health checkups, instead of only visiting health facilities once severe symptoms have already appeared.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong, of Linh Son Ward, shared: "I find this program very meaningful. Normally, getting a general checkup requires arranging time and spending money. Now, with the doctors examining me attentively and giving specific advice, I feel very reassured. Through the checkup, I also learned more about my own health condition so I can take proactive steps to prevent illness."

The consensus among residents is a driving force for the health sector's efforts to implement the program with the highest sense of responsibility. According to Dr. Tang Thi Mai Huong, Deputy Director of Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital, the unit has proactively arranged personnel and equipment, and developed a plan to coordinate with local authorities in order to ensure quality, progress and safety during the checkup process. More importantly, through the program, many cases at risk of disease, or with disease that had not yet been detected, have been screened early, helping residents receive timely advice and treatment and limiting severe complications later on. This is precisely the core meaning of preventive medicine: early detection for early intervention, reducing treatment costs and improving residents' quality of life.

Residents of Duc Xuan Ward undergoing health checkups at Bac Kan General Hospital

The entire political system joins in

Not only in Linh Son, the Program of periodic health checkups and free universal health screening is being synchronously implemented in 92 communes and wards across the Province. In Duc Xuan Ward, organizational work has been carried out methodically, from compiling lists, communication and mobilization, to arranging venues and coordinating with health facilities.

According to Comrade Vu Thi Kim Quynh, Vice Chairwoman of the Duc Xuan Ward People's Committee, the locality has identified this as an important political task requiring the involvement of the entire political system. Residential groups and mass organizations are actively communicating and mobilizing so that residents clearly understand the significance of periodic health checkups and participate fully according to the plan. She emphasized: "We are focusing on reviewing each group of subjects, notifying every household, and at the same time closely coordinating with the health sector so that the checkup process proceeds smoothly, methodically, and on the planned schedule."

As one of the people who had just completed the health checkup components, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, of Duc Xuan Ward, said: "I find this a very practical policy. The health checkup helps me know my own physical condition and detect illness early, if any. We residents strongly support it and hope the program will continue to be maintained in the years to come."

From realities at the grassroots level, it can be seen that the success of the program depends not only on the professional capacity of the health sector, but also on the way it is organized, coordinated, communicated, and how the People are mobilized. When Party committees, authorities, mass organizations and health forces all join in together, residents find it easier to access services, feel more reassured, and participate more proactively.

Mobile medical vehicles mobilized to carry out health checkups for residents

Building a foundation for electronic health data

From these grassroots checkup sites, a large-scale community health care campaign is being vigorously implemented across the entire Province. In order to realize the goal of having at least 50% of residents undergo health checkups by June 30, 2026 and reaching 100% before October 30, 2026, for the past time, in implementing the direction of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, the health sector has developed a plan and implemented synchronous solutions to ensure the progress of implementation.

Difficulties and obstacles arising during implementation are promptly compiled, reported, and accompanied by proposed solutions. The resolute involvement of the entire political system has produced notable initial results. As of the end of June 19, 2026, the Province as a whole had 901,064 people who had undergone periodic health checkups or free health screening, reaching 52.50% of the actual local population.

Many communes and wards have achieved notable results, such as Van Xuan Ward with a rate of 87.24%; Song Cong Ward reaching 81.85%; Phan Dinh Phung Ward reaching 81.61%; Tich Luong Ward reaching 77.97%; and Gia Sang Ward reaching 72.51%. These figures show that the program is taking hold in daily life and receiving an enthusiastic response from the People.

However, alongside the positive results, the implementation process still faces no small number of difficulties. One of the major obstacles at present is unifying the population data sources and updating data into the electronic health record system. Data from functional agencies still shows certain discrepancies, while compiling statistics on residents by occupational group is difficult due to fluctuations in residency and employment.

In addition, implementing the requirement for chest X-rays for people aged 18 and over, in accordance with the Ministry of Health's guidance, is also placing great pressure on medical examination and treatment facilities, especially given that many units still have limited equipment and personnel.

According to Comrade Luu Thi Binh, Deputy Director of the Department of Health: In the coming time, the health sector will continue to coordinate closely with localities to resolve difficulties, step up communication, review subjects, strengthen personnel, and apply information technology in health data management. The health sector is determined to work with localities to achieve the goals set out in the plan, ensuring that residents have convenient, quality and effective access to health checkup services, while continuing to perfect the electronic health database to create a foundation for the management and care of the People's health.

Large numbers of residents of Kha Son Commune coming for free health checkups

From universal health checkups to comprehensive health management

Universal free health checkups is a program of profound humane significance, especially for elderly people, people with underlying conditions, and residents in areas that are still disadvantaged or that have not yet developed the habit of periodic health checkups. But the significance of the program does not stop at a single checkup round. More importantly, from the checkup results, each resident gains additional information to proactively care for themselves; the health sector gains additional data to monitor, classify, advise on, and manage health by risk group; and authorities gain an additional basis for formulating more appropriate community health care policies.

Amid the vigorous implementation of digital transformation, electronic health records will be an important foundation for connecting data between the grassroots level and medical examination and treatment facilities, helping the process of monitoring, treatment, consultation and disease management to be carried out more continuously and methodically. Once health data is fully, accurately and cleanly updated, and capable of being exploited over the long term, the work of caring for the People's health will gradually shift from passive to proactive, and from treatment-focused to disease prevention, early detection, and regular health management.

Universal free health checkups, a program of humane significance, especially for people with medical conditions

More than just statistics, the Program of periodic health checkups and free universal health screening is spreading a profound humane message: health care should not only begin once illness occurs, but must be carried out early, remotely, from the grassroots level, and in a proactive manner. When each resident receives care, has their health regularly monitored, and has access to health services right where they live, that is also when the foundation of a healthy, happy and sustainably developing community is strengthened.

This is also a concrete, practical action by Thai Nguyen in realizing Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW of the Politburo on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of the People's health. From these grassroots checkup sites today, a new approach to community health care is gradually taking shape: putting the people at the center, data as the foundation, and the People's health as the highest goal of development policies.