Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuyen: Shaping Vietnam’s Modern Healthcare System

Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuyen, President of the Vietnam Medical Association and former Vice Minister of Health, has spent over 50 years advancing Vietnam's medical infrastructure.

Reforming Health Insurance and Patient Rights

In 2004, Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuyen assumed the role of Vice Minister of Health, where she managed the oversight of medical examinations and treatment protocols. According to government records, her primary objective was to increase public participation in health insurance while ensuring the efficient use of insurance funds to protect patient rights.

To modernize the system, Dr. Xuyen conducted an evaluation of hospitals from the central to local levels and researched international healthcare models. This research informed the development of the Vietnam Law on Medical Examination and Treatment. She also collaborated with multi-disciplinary experts to create a system of specialized technical procedures and a corresponding evaluation committee.

Working with the Social Security of Vietnam, she finalized the list of medications and techniques covered by health insurance, which directly expanded the benefits available to insured patients.

Dr. Xuyen identified a critical gap in medical expertise at lower-level hospitals. This initiative resulted in Decision 1816, a policy that rotates medical personnel from high-level hospitals to smaller, local facilities.

The program focuses on the practical transfer of technology and the direct training of local doctors and nurses. Dr. Xuyen has maintained that the health sector must continuously update its techniques to remain competitive with advanced global medical systems.

Improving Patient Experience through Plan 2151

Beyond technical infrastructure, Dr. Xuyen targeted the behavioral aspects of healthcare. She led the implementation of Plan 2151, a reform aimed at improving the attitude and style of healthcare staff to increase patient satisfaction.

The plan was deployed across health departments in 63 provinces and cities. It operated under the guiding principle that “the smile of the patient is the happiness of the doctor,” shifting the focus toward a more patient-centric model of care.

Leadership of the Vietnam Medical Association

Following her retirement from government service in 2016, Dr. Xuyen was elected President of the Vietnam Medical Association. In this role, she strengthened ties between the Association, the Ministry of Health, and the Social Security of Vietnam to improve the supervision of medical centers and public health education.

Under her leadership, the Association has achieved several milestones:

• Medical Literature: In late 2023, the Association and the Ministry of Health published the Vietnamese Medical Encyclopedia.
• International Training: The Association maintains a scholarship program with the Takeda Foundation in Japan, sending six Vietnamese doctors to study in Japan for three to six months annually.
• Global Integration: The organization holds memberships in the World Medical Association and the ASEAN Medical Association.
• Specialized Training: Dr. Xuyen established partnerships with the World Stroke Organization and the Vietnam Rehabilitation Association to provide specialized medical training.

Humanitarian Work and the “Bright Tomorrow” Fund

Dr. Xuyen currently presides over the “Bright Tomorrow” Cancer Patient Support Fund. This humanitarian organization provides financial and medical support to cancer patients in difficult circumstances and funds scientific research into oncology. The fund is an official member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

Professional Recognition and Awards

Over her five-decade career, Dr. Xuyen has received numerous state honors for her contributions to medicine and administration. Her awards include:

• People’s Doctor (2010)
• Excellent Doctor (1998)
• Orders of Labor: First, Second, and Third Class
• Order of Independence: Third Class
• Prime Minister’s Certificates of Merit: Five awards

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Plan 2151?

Plan 2151 is a healthcare reform initiative led by Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuyen to improve the professional conduct and attitude of medical staff toward patients across 63 Vietnamese provinces.

How does the “Bright Tomorrow” Fund support patients?

The fund provides humanitarian aid for cancer treatment to patients facing financial hardship and supports technological research into cancer treatment as a member of the UICC.