Ministry of Health (Vietnam)

The Ministry of Health (MOH, Bộ Y tế) is the government ministry responsible for the governance and guidance of the health, healthcare and health industry of Vietnam. In conjunction with other ministries and the prime minister's office, the Ministry is responsible for creating and promulgating long-term health policy programs such as the "National Strategy on Nutrition for the 2001 - 2010 period" and the "National Policy on Injury Prevention 2002 - 2010". Its main offices are located in Ba Đình District, Hanoi.

History
The Ministry of Health was one of the first 13 Ministries of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam,  established on August 28, 1945 and introduced to the people for the first time on September 2, 1945. The first Minister was Doctor Pham Ngoc Thach.

On March 2, 1946, the Government of the Resistance Coalition merged the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Social Relief into the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Relief and Labor, with Minister Truong Dinh Tri. But on November 3, 1946, it was separated into the Ministry of Health as before in the National Coalition Government, with Minister Hoang Tich Tri.

In November 2019, Minister Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến was dismissed from the position because she reached retirement age and Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam took charge of the ministry. On 7 July 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Nguyễn Thanh Long, who is a professor specialized in infectious diseases, was temporarily appointed for the position, acting as the Minister of Health. On 12 November 2020, he officially became the Minister of Health. He held the post until June 7th 2022, when he was relieved of duty by the National Assembly following corruption allegations regarding the Viet A COVID-19 test kit scandal.

On July 15, 2022, Ms. Dao Hong Lan took office as Minister of Health,  replacing Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long, after the discovery of scandals related to the Vietnam Technology Corporation (Viet A) case.

Ministerial units

 * Department of Maternal Health and Children
 * Department of Medical Equipment and Works
 * Department of Health Insurance
 * Department of Planning and Finance
 * Department of Organisation and Personnel
 * Department of International Cooperation
 * Department of Legislation
 * Office of the Ministry
 * Ministry Inspectorate
 * General Department of Preventive Medicine
 * Agency of HIV/AIDS Prevention
 * Agency of Food Safety
 * Agency of Health Environment
 * Agency of Science, Technology and Training
 * Agency of Medical Services Administration
 * Agency of Traditional Medicine Administration
 * Agency of Drug Administration
 * Agency of Population

Administrative units

 * Health Strategy and Policy Institute
 * Health and Lifestyle Newspaper
 * National Center of Health Information