Need for Long-Term Capital Increases in Vietnam's Private Healthcare Sector
As demographic shifts increase demand for medical care in the country with a population exceeding 100 million, supporting the private sector through models such as financial leasing and public-private partnerships is recommended due to constraints in the public system.
Despite the growing demand for quality healthcare services in Vietnam, the private healthcare sector is reported to face difficulties in accessing medium- and long-term investments as well as financing for high-tech medical equipment.
Demographic Shift and Growing Healthcare Demand
As Vietnam's population surpasses the 100 million mark, the country is entering one of Asia's fastest-aging population periods. At the same time, the middle class is projected to account for approximately 50 percent of the total population by 2035.
This social transformation directly increases the need for high-quality medical examinations, specialized treatments, preventive care, and personalized healthcare services. Meanwhile, limitations in investment resources and infrastructure within the public healthcare system make the role of the private sector even more critical.
Financing Bottleneck and Medical Equipment Market
Pham Xuan Hoe, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Leasing Association, emphasized that Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW offers new opportunities for the private healthcare sector, but the issue of medium- and long-term capital for high-tech equipment must be resolved.
According to Ministry of Health data, Vietnam's medical equipment market reached approximately 1.7 billion US dollars in 2024, ranking among the fastest-growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region. More than 90 percent of the medical equipment in the sector is still imported.
Public-Private Partnerships and Alternative Model Proposals
Nguyen Van De, Chairman of the Vietnam Private Hospitals Association, and Nguyen The Manh, Vice Chairman of the Central Policy and Strategy Committee, stated that the use of financial leasing models should be expanded.
Experts also point to expanding public-private partnerships and facilitating the private sector's access to technology and digital transformation as key steps toward a solution.