Infant care at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Photo: VNA)
Vinh Phuc (VNA) – The unbalanced sex ratio at birth is expanding quickly,particularly in the Red River Delta, stressed Deputy Health Minister NguyenViet Tien.
He raisedthe alarm at a conference held in the northern province of Vinh Phuc on May 23to review outcomes of a project on controlling the imbalance for 2016 – 2025.
The mainreason behind the problem is the deeply-rooted preference for sons, the DeputyMinister said, adding that the situation is made more complicated by the easieraccess to affordable sex-determination and sex-selection technology that allowscouples to pursue their desire for one or more sons. To date, there are yet anysanctions imposed to deter the practice.
Accordingto the General Office for Population and Family Planning (GOPFP), after oneyear of implementation, 38 provinces and cities have included criteria oncontrolling the imbalance of sex ratio at birth in their socio-economicdevelopment plan, while 26 others have allocated part of the local budget tofinance the project.
During theperiod, the GOPFP has organised more than 20,000 seminars, workshops andconferences on the subject, disseminating knowledge about the population law tonearly 700,000 people.
The agencyalso carried out 3,667 inspections targeting medical facilities offeringultrasound scans and abortion services.
However,the outcome left little to be optimistic. In 2014, 15 out of 63 provinces andcities nationwide reported the ratio of 115 male births to 100 female births.The number decreased to 13 in 2015 before rising to 22 last year.
The GOPFP explainedthat in 2016, the project’s agenda mostly focused on guiding localities indrafting out plans of actions. Funding was not distributed until October, thusa number of activities could not be carried out.
Participatingexperts from the EU and UN Population Fund and Republic of Korea shared theirexperience on measures to reduce unbalanced sex ratio at birth in the world,suggesting some advice for Vietnam.-VNA
Several effective measures have been implemented to control the gender imbalance over the years, but in many areas of Vietnam the ratio of male to females at birth is still skewed.
Experts say some four million men in Vietnam will have no chance of getting married by 2050 if the current imbalance in the nation’s sex ratio persists.
Population quality increased remarkably as the infant mortality rate for children aged under 5 years old and the fatality rate for mothers reduced, while average life expectancy rate started to rise.
Vietnam now boasts a nationwide healthcare network with 1,665 hospitals, 384 of which are non-public, supported by local commune- and ward-level stations. At the end of 2024, hospital bed capacity reached 34 per 10,000 people, slightly above the global average.
The 56-year-old patient from Quang Tri province was discharged in stable condition as he no longer experienced shortness of breath and was able to walk, move around, and eat normally.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Vu Trung, Director of the Pasteur Institute, said that under the MoU, the two sides committed to promoting diverse and practical collaborative activities, including joint conferences and workshops, exchanges of scholars, researchers and students, sharing academic materials, and the development of specific programmes and projects in scientific research, training, and epidemic prevention.
TytoCare, a leading Israeli telemedicine company based in Netanya, is willing to work with Vietnamese regulators, insurers, and healthcare providers to develop a sustainable digital health ecosystem.
The partnership is under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding on the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control, signed in Hanoi on July 22.
An estimated 7 million Vietnamese are currently living with diabetes, but about 50% remain undiagnosed, a dangerous gap that is fuelling serious, preventable complications and increasing the burden on the healthcare system.
In 2024, Vietnam achieved 99% coverage for the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine, up from 80% in 2023. Immunisation coverage in the country has not only rebounded to the high levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic but has now surpassed the rates recorded in 2019.
Health authorities in HCM City have issued an urgent alert after six people died from dengue fever, amid a spike in infections driven by the onset of the rainy season.
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The Hanoi ceremony highlighted efforts to ensure all citizens, especially women and youth, can access accurate information and healthcare services to make informed reproductive choices.
After such a long time, the law has revealed many limitations, prompting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to gather opinions to amend the law to give more chances to thousands of patients every year.
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The centre not only serves residents living on the island, but also receives tens of thousands of visitors every year, according to Assoc Prof Dr Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the HCM CIty Department of Health.
Not only does Vietnam attract international tourists with its landscapes, culture, and cuisine, but it is also gradually becoming a reliable destination for medical treatment, offering high-quality services at reasonable costs.
Over the past six months, 150 communal health stations in provinces including Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Ben Tre and Ca Mau have been equipped with information technology systems. In addition, 117 key provincial healthcare workers have received training, with thousands more expected to follow.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Ministry of Health swiftly launched a telemedicine programme, connecting more than 1,000 medical establishments nationwide. The model, which remains in operation, has benefited tens of thousands of patients, including foreign nationals.
After more than three weeks of intensive treatment, the patient's pneumonia improved, breathing stabilised, sedation was reduced, and the breathing tube was removed. He is now conscious, able to eat orally, and in recovery.
Infant care at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Photo: VNA) 
