Vietnam Ministry of Health mandates annual school health checkups

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has issued Circular 33/2026/TT-BYT, which mandates annual health examinations for children in preschools and students in general education facilities at the beginning of each school year.

These examinations aim to proactively monitor student health, allowing for the early detection of physical, nutritional, mental, and motor abnormalities, as well as common diseases. For preschool children, assessments include vital signs, nutrition, mental-motor development, and immunization status. Notably, children aged 16 to 30 months will be screened for autism risks. Clinical examinations will cover the head, eyes, ears, nose, throat, teeth, and musculoskeletal-neurological systems.

For general education students, the guidelines include obstetric history, physical fitness, and clinical examinations. These checkups are intended to record health indicators and identify issues requiring further monitoring, counseling, or medical treatment.