Under Circular 34/2026/TT-BYT, from 2028 students nationwide will be screened for 5 groups of conditions, from overweight and refractive errors to mental health.
What the new document sets out
Circular 34/2026/TT-BYT, issued by the Ministry of Health, provides guidance on several parts of the National Target Program on health care, population and development for the 2026-2035 period.
The appendix to the Circular states that all students nationwide, from preschool through the end of upper secondary school, are eligible for health checks, screening, early detection and treatment advice for school-related diseases and conditions.
Student health checks begin in 2026 and follow the regulations of the Ministry of Health. The results serve as a basis for the relevant agencies and units to monitor each student's health and arrange appropriate care.
Five groups of conditions to be screened
From 2028, the program will organize screening to detect school-related diseases and conditions early, along with treatment advice. The Circular specifies the following 5 groups:
- Spinal curvature (kyphosis and scoliosis).
- Refractive errors.
- Oral and dental diseases.
- Overweight and obesity.
- Mental health disorders.
Screening follows the professional regulations of the Ministry of Health. To avoid organizing it several times, this activity can be combined with the health check at the start of the school year, or with students' health examinations or periodic check-ups.
Assignment of responsibilities
At the central level, the Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health) is the lead agency and, together with the Medical Services Administration, issues guidance to localities, while also monitoring, supervising and evaluating implementation and compiling the results.
In provinces and cities, the People's Committees direct and assign the relevant units to carry out health checks, screening, detection and counseling, and to refer students with school-related diseases and conditions to appropriate places for treatment.
Rules on health checks at the start of the school year
Earlier, the Ministry of Health's Circular 33/2026/TT-BYT provided guidance on several articles of Decree 165/2026/NĐ-CP. This Decree details the Law on Disease Prevention, including health checks for learners at the start of each school year. Some key points:
- Preschool children and school students have a health check once a year, at the start of the school year.
- The check can take place right at the school, at a commune-level health station, at a medical facility, or at another place that suits local conditions and complies with the law.
- Schools are responsible for organizing the checks in accordance with Clause 1, Article 5 of Decree 165/2026/NĐ-CP and Circular 33.
- The results must be entered into the Health Data Portal (Ministry of Health) as instructed.
- Students showing signs of abnormal health will be advised to see an appropriate medical facility.
Beyond the checks at school, if you notice anything unusual about your child's eyes, teeth, weight or posture, you can bring your child to Ky Hoa Medical Center; walk in during opening hours and take a queue number to be examined by doctors in Pediatrics, Ophthalmology and Dentistry (Oral & Maxillofacial).
Ky Hoa Medical Center is open Monday to Saturday, 6:30 - 11:30 and 13:00 - 17:00; closed on Sunday. Address: 266A - 268 3 Thang 2 Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Hotline 028.3868.1097.
Source: Suc Khoe & Doi Song (Health & Life) newspaper