Ministry of Health (MoH) of Vietnam

What is the Ministry of Health (MoH)? The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Vietnam (Bộ Y tế) is the government ministry responsible for guiding national health policy, healthcare services, and regulation of health-related products, including medical devices. Established in 1945, the MoH governs Vietnam's health sector, including developing legislation, standards, and strategies for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food safety, and public health initiatives. What does the MoH do? The MoH ensures that health products and services in Vietnam comply with established safety, quality, and performance standards throughout their lifecycle. It implements and enforces legislative frameworks—such as Decree 98/2021 and its amendment Decree 07/2023—to establish technical regulations, classification systems, and oversight mechanisms across medical products. Through its agencies, like the Infrastructure and Medical Device Administration (IMDA), the MoH advises on state policy, conducts inspections, handles complaints, and coordinates enforcement against regulatory violations. The MoH manages market access protocols, including the issuance of import licenses, registration codes, price declarations, and Free Sale Certificates; it also oversees advertising and promotional content for health products. Beyond product regulation, the Ministry is charged with health surveillance, disease control, clinical trial authorization, and broader public health planning.