The new regulations, effective from 9/9/2026, will apply retroactively from 1/1/2026. This initiative aims to improve the income of healthcare professionals and help retain personnel within the medical sector.

This new allowance directly impacts the financial landscape of the entire healthcare industry. The Ministry of Health estimates an additional budget of nearly 5,961 billion VND will be needed in 2026 to cover this difference. The state budget will bear over 5,136 billion VND, while autonomous hospitals will fund over 825 billion VND.

As this allowance is integrated into the cost of healthcare services, its adjustment will raise examination and treatment costs. This will, in turn, affect the health insurance fund and patients' out-of-pocket co-payments.

According to the Ministry of Health, authorities will directly transfer the allowance to medical staff accounts with each monthly salary payment. The management agency calculates the incentive percentage by multiplying it with the total current salary scale, plus position allowance and seniority allowance beyond the standard scale, if applicable. This professional incentive payment is independent and not used as a basis for social insurance contributions or benefit payments.

For example, an employee with a monthly base salary of 10 million VND would receive an allowance of 3 million VND at the 30% tier, 4 million VND at the 40% tier, and 7 million VND at the 70% tier. Actual income will vary depending on individual salary coefficients and positions.

Doctors and medical staff treating patients in the intensive care unit, Military Hospital 175. Photo: Quynh Tran

The 80% ceiling is designated for the most hazardous, dangerous, and high-pressure positions. This includes staff directly involved in psychiatric examination and treatment, forensic examination, emergency resuscitation, poisoning treatment, and pathological anatomy (autopsies, microscopic examination for severe disease cells). Staff at commune health stations and preventive health facilities in border, island, and remote areas will also receive the 80% ceiling, an increase of 10% from previous regulations.

The 70% tier applies to those treating and caring for patients with highly dangerous infectious diseases (Group A), tuberculosis, leprosy, HIV/AIDS, severely disabled individuals, and newborns. It also covers morgue staff, those working in high-risk pathogen laboratories, or opioid addiction treatment facilities. Staff at disease control centers (CDC) and other commune health stations also qualify for this tier.

The 60% tier is for teams treating cancer with chemicals (chemotherapy), radiation (radiotherapy), exposure to radioisotopes (nuclear medicine), or testing for dangerous pathogens. The 50% tier is for staff directly involved in anesthesia and resuscitation, severe burn treatment, pediatrics, dermatology, infection control, and diagnostic imaging (such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans).

General medical examination and treatment, general nursing care, rehabilitation, traditional medicine dispensing, pharmaceutical production and distribution, and medical equipment operation staff will receive the 40% tier. The 30% floor applies to school medical staff, population communication officers, and indirect administrative staff in public healthcare facilities. This lowest tier has increased by 10% compared to before.

Le Nga