First-ever national health day to be held nationwide on april 7

First-ever National Health Day is being implemented nationwide, with the goal of operationalizing the shift from treating disease to preventing disease, while emphasizing comprehensive, continuous health care across the lifecycle.

In response to National Health Day (April 7) and World Health Day 2026, the health sector is organizing a nationwide series of activities under the theme “Active disease prevention for a healthier Vietnam.”

Nationwide rollout and policy basis

This is the first time National Health Day has been implemented uniformly nationwide, with participation from ministries, sectors, localities, political-social organizations, healthcare facilities and a broad segment of the population.

The activities are implemented based on the 2025 Law on Prevention; Resolution 72-NQ/TW of the Politburo on some breakthrough solutions to strengthen protection, care and improvement of public health; and Government Resolution 282/NQ-CP establishing an Action Program to implement Resolution 72-NQ/TW.

Officials said these strategic directions provide the foundation for health care reform, moving toward early prevention and improving people’s quality of life.

Theme aligned with universal health coverage

The theme “Active disease prevention for a healthy Vietnam” signals the health sector’s priority in the current period: shifting from treatment-centric thinking to proactive disease prevention and continuous health care across the lifecycle.

The series also reflects Vietnam’s response to World Health Day 2026, with the message “global action for universal health coverage,” aiming for everyone to access high-quality, fair and sustainable health services.

Launching ceremony and public activities

Within the series, the launching ceremony is described as the central highlight, intended to disseminate the message to the community and concretize the orientation of moving from treating illness to preventing illness, while emphasizing comprehensive, lifecycle-based health care in line with Resolution 72-NQ/TW.

The program is scheduled to take place from 7:00 a.m. on 5 April 2026 at the Tran Nhan Tong pedestrian street area in Hoan Kiem Park, Hanoi, with about 2,000 delegates attending. Participants include Party and State leaders; representatives from central ministries; international organizations; professional associations; media agencies; and a large number of residents.

Organizers said the ceremony is designed to be open to increase community participation. Citizens can visit a free screening area, receive nutrition counseling, participate in group calisthenics, follow an arts program, and join a post-ceremony walking activity.

Peak week and concurrent local events

Besides the main event, communications and professional activities will be implemented continuously in the first and second quarters of 2026, with the week of 4–10 April identified as the peak.

In practice, people can directly take part in activities such as free screening, nutrition counseling, group calisthenics, and community sports including walking, running or cycling.

At the local level, responsive activities will be organized concurrently during the peak week from 4 to 10 April, using flexible formats suited to local conditions, with the aim of raising awareness and changing health care behaviors in the community.

Call to action for citizens

Through National Health Day 2026, the health sector calls on every citizen to pay more attention to their own health and family health; maintain a healthy lifestyle; increase physical activity; follow a reasonable diet; undergo periodic health check-ups; get full vaccinations; and pay attention to mental health care.