NARRATIVE REVIEW OF SOME NATIONAL-LEVEL POLICIES RELATED TO ACTIVITIES AND WORKFORCE IN PREVENTIVE MEDICINE IN VIETNAM

Abstract

This study employs a narrative review method to characterize national-level policies governing preventive medicine operations and human resources in Vietnam. Findings reveal 28 national policy documents and official reports pertaining to preventive medicine, as of December 2024. Among these, Decrees and Circulars constitute the majority, concentrating on primary thematic domains including: professional practice, human resource standards and recruitment, training and capacity building, remuneration and allowance regimes, and systemic organizational models. Key legislative documents, notably Resolution 20-NQ/TW, Decree 96/2023/ND-CP, and Joint Circular 10/2015/TTLT-BYT-BNV, play a pivotal role in orienting, standardizing, and regulating elements pertinent to the preventive medicine workforce. Broadly, national policies have laid an initial legal foundation for the advancement of preventive medicine, specifically regarding professional practice, organizational structures, and compensation mechanisms. Nevertheless, the existing policy landscape remains fragmented, lacks systemic coherence, and exhibits a dearth of specific regulations tailored exclusively to preventive medicine physicians. This underscores the imperative to refine the legal framework to ensure the quality and sustainable development of this workforce.