KUALA LUMPUR - Ho Chi Minh City will provide full tuition support and living allowances for resident doctors to improve healthcare quality and tackle a shortage of medical staff.

According to the Vietnam News Agency, the special policy was introduced under a new project approved by the municipal People’s Committee.

Under the plan, resident doctors will receive 100% tuition coverage during their training.

Those enrolled in specialties considered difficult to attract will also receive financial support for living expenses.

The list of these specialties will be reviewed each year based on the manpower needs of the city’s healthcare system.

The Department of Health will work with hospitals and training institutions to assess workforce demand and submit recommendations to the municipal People’s Committee.

Doctors in training will also be allowed to undergo professional competency assessments, helping to shorten the licensing process and ensure they meet regulatory requirements to provide medical services.

By 2030, the city aims to add at least 250 resident doctors to public hospitals under the Department of Health.

In return, the doctors must serve in the public healthcare system for at least six years and follow work placements assigned by the Department of Health and hospitals.

Those who fail to meet this commitment will be required to repay the financial assistance received.

Three universities in Ho Chi Minh City offer resident doctor training programmes: University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine and the University of Health Sciences, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.

Resident doctors currently make up only 10% to 12% of the total number of doctors in public hospitals, despite strong demand in fields such as emergency care, cardiology, oncology, obstetrics and paediatrics, anaesthesia, orthopaedics, neurology, diagnostic imaging and preventive medicine.

Following its administrative merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, Ho Chi Minh City’s population has risen to about 14 million.

The city is expected to handle more than 30% of outpatient visits and 23% of inpatient treatments nationwide.