Health in Vietnam

Health in Vietnam encompasses general and specific concerns to the region, its history, and various socioeconomic status, such as dealing with malnutrition, effects of Agent Orange as well as psychological issues from the Vietnam War, tropical diseases, and other issues such as underdeveloped healthcare systems or inadequate ratio of healthcare or social workers to patients.

Life expectancy has risen by two years for males and females in Vietnam between 2000 and 2012.^[1] This is half of the average rise in life expectancy for other parts of the world during the same time period.^[1]

Malnutrition is still not as common as it was in the provinces and the government spending on health care corresponded to just 0.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Government subsidies covered only about 20 percent of health care expenses, with the remaining 80 percent coming out of individuals’ own pockets.^[2] Although cases of malnutrition has decreased overall, it still remains a concern, particularly among the ethnic minority.^[3][4]

In 2012, almost 22% of deaths could be attributed to strokes. This leading cause of death was followed by heart disease with 7% of deaths, and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with 4.9% of deaths.^[1] The two largest risk factors for adults are tobacco use and raised blood pressure.^[1]

The Human Rights Measurement Initiative^[5] finds that Vietnam is doing 91.1% of what should be possible at its level of income, for the right to health.^[6] Human rights expects have identified that people groups such as people who are homeless, people with low social or economic status, and street children/homeless youth are particularly at risk of having their right to health violated.^[6]

Additionally, as Vietnam is also within the tropical zone, tropical diseases have also been a major concern past and present, such as from malaria, dengue fever, etc, where branches of medicine such as tropical medicine or infectious disease was required to help treat patients.^[7] Neglected tropical diseases have also been a concern as well.^[8]