Health check Vietnam: Opportunity for MedTech and private healthcare investor
Vietnam will launch a nationwide preventive healthcare programme in 2026, providing free annual check-ups for all citizens. This reform marks a shift towards disease prevention and creates both opportunities and regulatory challenges for international healthcare stakeholders.
The policy shift: Nationwide preventive screening
Vietnam’s Ministry of Health will phase in free health checkups from 2026 for 20 million high-risk individuals, including seniors, people with chronic conditions, low-income households, and those in remote areas (Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW).
According to the health insurance department, the actual cost per checkup per person is about VND 300,000 (VND 100,000 is approximately USD 3.80) The programme’s initial budget is VND 25 trillion, with nationwide implementation requiring about VND 30 trillion VND. The reform shifts healthcare from curative to preventive, with legal approval expected by the end of 2025.
“We create tailored legal strategies for market entry, structure partnerships and implement compliance regulations for you.”
Vu Manh Quynh, Attorney-at-Law, Managing Partner, ECOVIS LAW, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Market outlook: A MedTech sector on the rise
Vietnam’s medical device market, valued at USD 1.68 billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 2.5 billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate of 10.2%. This growth is driven by rising healthcare demand, policies encouraging private investment, and the digitalisation of hospitals (see info box).
Healthcare startups and medical technology enterprises are expected to experience strong growth, with the highest demand expected in the following areas:
- Haematology and biochemistry analysers
- Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics and rapid test kits
- AI-assisted imaging systems
- Portable ultrasound and telehealth equipment
Vietnam’s hidden epidemic: The case for early detection
Vietnam faces a heavy burden of undiagnosed non-communicable diseases, with most cases of hypertension and type 2 diabetes untreated (according to WHO), cancer often diagnosed at late stages, and a five-year survival rate for lung cancer of only 14.8%.
The new programme aims to close these diagnostic gaps and reduce health and economic burdens.
Structural pressure and the rise of private providers
Vietnam currently has 1,645 hospitals (384 private), yet private spending accounts for ~49.5% of total health costs. Annual visits exceed 170 million outpatient and 17 million inpatient cases. Public infrastructure will face pressure as screening programmes are implemented, with private hospitals expected to absorb most of the overflow.
Government targets include 100% insurance coverage by 2030 and reducing out-of-pocket spending to 30%.
Case study: Healthcare startups in Vietnam
In 2023, Ecovis advised a leading European in vitro diagnostic (IVD) manufacturer on establishing a wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in Ho Chi Minh City. This involved successfully navigating import licensing procedures, VAT exemptions for clinical devices, and full registration with the Ministry of Health – all within less than 4 months. Ecovis was able to draw on its many years of expertise in the regulatory approval and registration of medical devices at the Ministry of Health, its experience in structuring public-private joint ventures for hospital chains, and in tax optimisation for diagnostic companies that import AI-based screening tools.
Legal framework: Incentives and regulatory complexity
Vietnam encourages foreign investment in healthcare through laws including the Law on Investment 2020, the Law on Pharmacy 2016, Decree No. 155/2018/ND-CP, and Resolution 29/NQ-CP (2024).
Additional government commitments include prioritising land allocation, fast-track licensing, and harmonisation of EHR/device standards. Under Vietnam’s WTO commitments, foreign investors may establish wholly foreign-owned hospitals, joint ventures, or partnerships, with a minimum capital of USD 20 million.
Strategic entry roadmap for investors
- Opportunity hotspots: Diagnostic labs in underserved provinces, urban imaging centres linked to insurance, and hospital PPP projects in newly merged provinces.
- Entry recommendations: Conduct early regulatory assessments, align devices with EHR systems, partner with local hospitals, and prepare for dual licensing from the Ministry of Health and provincial authorities.
