Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra signed a decision on August 10 approving a project to develop the pre-hospital emergency system for the 2026-2030 perirod.
The platform is scheduled to be completed in 2026 and become operational in 2027. It will connect and share data with an integrated platform for the 113, 114 and 115 emergency hotlines being developed by the Ministry of Public Security.
The project aims to establish a coordinated and modern nationwide emergency response system capable of receiving calls, dispatching services and providing timely medical assistance.
All provinces and cities are expected to operate local pre-hospital emergency networks and establish coordination mechanisms by 2030 involving health services, police, the military, firefighting and rescue forces and local authorities.
At least 75 per cent of medical staff at commune-level health stations will receive training in pre-hospital emergency care.
The plan also aims to provide basic first-aid knowledge to at least 3 per cent of the population, with at least 1 per cent receiving practical first-aid training.
The nationwide system is expected to have at least one standard ambulance per 100,000 people.
For critical emergencies, authorities aim to dispatch an ambulance within five minutes of a decision being made, while all emergency calls are expected to receive timely advice and appropriate coordination.
The government will also review regulations covering emergency personnel, vehicles, equipment, professional procedures, quality standards and inter-agency coordination.
Authorities will study ways for the national health insurance fund to gradually cover pre-hospital emergency services, subject to its financial capacity and future contribution levels.
Training programmes will also be developed for emergency medical personnel and dispatchers, while first-aid and emergency response skills may be incorporated into enhanced education programmes for students from lower secondary school onwards.
The Ministry of Education and Training, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, is expected to develop a list of college- and university-level training programmes for pre-hospital emergency personnel by December 2027.
