Vietnam Healthcare Expenditure

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Abstract

Household health expenditure is important in shaping human capital for developing countries, including Vietnam. This study aims to examine the factors affecting household health expenditure in Vietnam. The study used a combination of descriptive and multivariate regression analysis based on the Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey (VHLSS) 2016. As a result of the regression analysis, demographic factors such as gender, ethnicity, age, education level, and region are the most important determinants of healthcare spending in Vietnam. This result is similar to other studies conducted in Vietnam and other countries. For developing countries including Vietnam, the determinants of personal health expenditure raise several issues that need to be addressed by health planners. Some policy implications are suggested, including (i) improving the health care system in rural areas, (ii) strengthening the existing social safety net for the elderly, and (iii) developing health insurance covering the entire population.

About the authors

Phuong Hung Vu

National Economics University

Author for correspondence.
Email: phuongvh@neu.edu.vn
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5342-6975

Ph.D. (Economics), Lecturer

Viet Nam, Hanoi

Linh Thi Thuy Tran

Thang Long University

Email: linhttt@thanglong.edu.vn
ORCID iD: 0009-0000-1296-6871

Ph.D. (Economics), Lecturer

Viet Nam, Hanoi

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2. Fig 1. Spending on healthcare by demographic factors. Source: compilations by authors based on VHLSS 2016

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