On 2/3, Nguyen Viet Tien, Vice Chairman of the National Medical Council, announced this new regulation has been incorporated into the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment. Implementation will follow a suitable, transitional roadmap, adhering to the Law and guiding documents to ensure no disruption to practitioners and training institutions.

The Ministry of Health will conduct examinations and assessments for doctors in 2027. This includes: medical doctors, dental and maxillofacial doctors, traditional medicine doctors, and preventive medicine doctors. Assessments for medical assistants, nurses, and midwives will begin in 2028. Other professional titles, including medical technicians, clinical nutritionists, out-of-hospital emergency care providers, and clinical psychologists, will be examined from 2029.

Thus, all healthcare professionals must pass a competency assessment before being licensed to practice.

"This examination aims to ensure practitioners possess sufficient professional competence, skills, and ethical conduct, thereby improving the quality of healthcare services and patient safety," said Mr. Tien. He added that this gradual assessment helps standardize healthcare human resources according to common standards, moving towards international integration. This is also a common trend implemented by most countries.

Doctors examining patients at Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, facility 2. Photo: Quynh Tran

This activity is not intended to create additional barriers, but rather to standardize the quality of practice, protect patient rights, and enhance the professional reputation of healthcare staff, according to Mr. Tien. The content of the examination and assessment is developed based on the actual practice competency, aligning with professional competency standards for each corresponding title.

Regarding the examination format, the initial stage will involve a theoretical assessment. Questions are developed based on the professional competency standards for the respective titles.

Nguyen Huu Tu, Rector of Hanoi Medical University, stated that many advanced countries and most ASEAN nations (such as Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand...) already conduct national examinations for medical practice certificates, while Vietnam does not. This has hindered the recognition of degrees and certificates between countries and created obstacles for Vietnamese doctors practicing abroad, and vice versa.

Therefore, organizing a competency assessment for medical examination and treatment aims to establish a unified national standard, given that current medical training institutions have varying admission and graduation standards. Additionally, it helps promote international integration, aligning the practice competencies of Vietnamese healthcare professionals with international practices and standards.

According to the National Medical Council, depending on the actual situation, examinations will be arranged in suitable geographical areas to facilitate candidates. Organizing locations must meet strict criteria for quality, safety, and operational conditions. The examination format is expected to be objective multiple-choice questions (MCQs) administered on computers.

Associate Professor Doctor Luong Mai Anh, Chief of Staff of the National Medical Council, said that in 2026, the council will focus on completing the assessment tool kit for the four doctor groups mentioned above. This includes submitting regulations and criteria for selecting examination locations to the Ministry of Health for promulgation. The council will also develop an information technology system for managing, storing, and publishing results, and enhance communication to provide full, consistent information to medical staff and practitioners.

Vietnam currently has over 200 healthcare training facilities, including 66 university-level institutions. Approximately 10,000-12,000 doctors graduate each year. In recent years, many private universities have also begun offering medical training.

Le Nga