Resident doctors in Ho Chi Minh City to receive tuition fee exemption

Resident doctors admitted to training programs in Ho Chi Minh City are expected to be exempt from tuition fees and receive other benefits, according to the Department of Health Director.

Ho Chi Minh City is set to exempt resident doctors from tuition fees and provide additional benefits, a move announced by the Department of Health Director. This initiative aims to invest in highly skilled medical professionals, recognizing their rigorous training and future leadership potential within the healthcare sector. The Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Standing Board has "basically agreed" to the proposal, with specific details currently under development.

Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Department of Health, shared this information at a meeting with healthcare officials on the evening of 6/2. The gathering was organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Standing Board on the occasion of Tet Binh Ngo (Lunar New Year).

Mr. Thuong explained that the Department of Health chose resident doctors for its "Young Talent Training Project for the Health Sector" after receiving a request to develop such an initiative. He emphasized that these doctors are rigorously selected, undergo specialized training, and gain access to advanced techniques and new technologies. They are considered crucial for future leadership and management roles in the industry.

The Department of Health dedicated one year to developing the project, gathering feedback from various relevant departments and agencies. The City Party Committee Standing Board's conclusion signifies a major step forward, with further specific details to be ironed out.

"I am very pleased!" Mr. Thuong stated. "This means that in the near future, resident doctors will receive investment from the city and will no longer need to pay tuition fees. The budget will cover their tuition fees along with many other benefits."

The resident doctor program is a specialized, elite training model in the medical field. Originating in France, it subsequently spread across Europe, the United States, and worldwide. Vietnam currently has 13 institutions offering resident doctor training. Three of these are located in Ho Chi Minh City: the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City; Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine; and the School of Health Sciences (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City).

Currently, tuition fees for this program range from approximately 53-66,5 million VND, depending on the institution. If this policy comes to fruition, Ho Chi Minh City will be the first locality to implement long-standing proposals for tuition fee exemptions for resident doctors.