Due to the rapid development of the healthcare sector in Vietnam, updating and complying with hospital construction standards is becoming an urgent requirement. Designing and constructing healthcare facilities is not only a technical issue. It is also closely related to legal factors, service quality, and the ability to operate sustainably. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the regulations, technical standards, and the latest implementation roadmap in the field of healthcare facility construction in Vietnam.

See also the article Comprehensive Guide to the Conditions for Hospital Licensing in Vietnam 2025

1. Overview of the Legal Framework

The role of state management agencies in coordinating and enforcing regulations:

• Ministry of Health: The agency responsible for developing and issuing regulations related to technical professional standards in healthcare.
• Ministry of Construction: Responsible for issuing national construction standards (QCVN) in the construction field.
• Provincial Health Departments: The agency receiving and reviewing applications for operational licenses.

2. Basic Technical Requirements

2.1 Structural Standards

The structural requirements must meet the following standards:

• TCVN 2737:2023 standard: Ensures the structure can withstand the weight of medical equipment, hospital beds, patients, and healthcare staff.
• Structural durability: According to Annex I of Circular 06/2021/TT/BXD and QCVN 03:2022/BXD, the design lifespan for hospitals is usually at Level 3, which is no less than 50 years.
• Earthquake resistance: TCVN 9386:2012 on earthquake-resistant building design.

2.2 Regulations on Room Space and Area

Minimum area for main areas:

• Inpatient rooms:
  • 1-bed room: From 9 to 12 m².
  • 2-bed room: From 15 to 18 m².
  • 3-bed room: From 18 to 20 m².
  • 4-bed room: From 24 to 28 m².
  • 5-bed room: From 32 to 36 m².
• According to TCVN 4470:2012, the minimum area for an operating room is 36 m² per room.
• Emergency rooms:
  • 1-2 beds: From 15 to 18 m² per room.
  • 3-4 beds: From 24 to 32 m² per room.
• Infectious disease emergency rooms: From 15 to 18 m².

3. Safety Standards

3.1 Fire Protection System

• The fire protection system (PCCC) must be designed, equipped, and operated according to TCVN 3890:2023.
• For hospitals with 3 or more floors or a volume of 2,000 m³ or more: Must be equipped with a fire hydrant system. The technical requirements for automatic fire alarm systems are specified in TCVN 5738 and TCVN 7568.
• According to Clause 3, Article 16 of Decree 136/2020, the head of the facility is responsible for:
  • Regularly checking fire safety.
  • Reporting results to the Police Department every six months.
• Exit doors and other doors along the escape route must open in the direction of escape from the building to the outside (QCVN 06:2022/BXD).
• The width of escape stairways must not be smaller than the calculated width, no smaller than any exit door, and at least 1.35 meters wide.
• Hospitals must be standalone buildings or fire-resistant compartments, with a maximum fire safety height of 28 meters. If more than two stories, fire-resistant levels I or II and a fire hazard level S0 must be met.
• For single-story hospitals:
  • Fire resistance level III and a fire hazard level not lower than S1 are allowed.
  • The maximum area per floor in the fire compartment:
    • 2,000 m² for S0 structures.
    • 1,200 m² for S1 structures.
• Walls, partitions, and floors (including wood) must meet the fire hazard level K0.
• For hospital wards:
  • Up to 3 stories: Fire compartments must be ≤ 1,000 m² with fire-resistant partitions of type 1.
  • Above 3 stories or with S1 level: Fire compartments must be ≤ 800 m².

3.2 Infection Control

• Ventilation systems are mandatory to control infections and ensure air quality. According to QCVN 01:2021/BXD, building density and ventilation systems are specified.
  • TCVN 4470:2012 on general hospital design.
  • TCVN 5687:2024 on ventilation and air conditioning.
• According to TCVN 4470:2012 and Articles 40 and 41 of Decree 96/2023/ND-CP, hospitals must ensure requirements for operating rooms and special treatment areas:
  • Operating rooms must be arranged in a sterile area, with segregated movement paths following section 6.4.1.3 TCVN 4470:2012. The design should ensure a one-way flow from clean areas to sterile areas.
  • Operating room > 36 m² per room, with a height > 3.1 m, to ensure enough space for equipment, surgical tools, and safe movement of medical staff (TCXDVN 365: 2007).

4. Equipment and Technology Standards

Medical Equipment Requirements

• Medical equipment must meet the following: Standards for medical gas supply systems: Equipped with oxygen and compressed medical gas supply systems, leakage warning devices, pressure monitoring, and backup supply according to TCVN 8022-1:2009 and TCVN 8022-2:2009, equivalent to ISO 7396-1:2007 and ISO 7396-2:2007.
• According to ISO-CERT international certification office, the CE marking certifies that products comply with the European Union’s health, safety, and environmental protection requirements. CE marking ensures that medical equipment meets the highest quality and safety standards, protecting users.
• Implementing a PACS system is a significant step in the modernization and digitization of the healthcare industry, contributing to improved diagnosis and better service to the public (Bac Ninh General Hospital).

See also Meeting Medical Equipment Quality Standards in Vietnam

5. Implementation Guide

Implementation Timeline

The total time to implement a hospital project usually ranges from 24 to 36 months. This timeframe may vary depending on factors such as project scale, funding, contractor capacity, construction conditions, and other external factors.

For example, the project for the Oncology Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Facility 2, started in June 2016, with a completion plan of 16 months, but Phase 1 was only completed in October 2020.

• Planning and design phase (6-8 months):
  • Survey topography and geology.
  • Develop a master plan.
  • Design infrastructure and construction techniques according to medical standards.
  • Analyze bed usage, specialties, and service capacity.
• Apply for construction permits and related permits (3-4 months):
  
  • Exemption if the design is approved by a competent authority.
  • Permits are required if self-assessed or not reviewed by a professional agency.
  • Basis: Point g, Clause 2, Article 89, Amended Construction Law 2020.
• Construction phase (12-18 months):
  • Install equipment and run tests (3-6 months):
    • High-end medical equipment typically requires calibration and inspection.
    • Medical equipment must be inspected.

Medical equipment in the list published by the Ministry of Health must be inspected: Article 55 of Decree 98/2021/ND-CP.

List of equipment to be inspected: Article 5, Circular 05/2022/TT-BYT.

See more information on the Electronic News Portal of the Construction Newspaper

6. Conclusion

Compliance with hospital construction standards is mandatory and forms the foundation for building modern, safe, and efficient healthcare facilities. Investors need to focus on detailed planning, choosing experienced consultants, and ensuring sufficient financial resources for the project.

For detailed advice on building hospitals according to the latest standards, please contact the consultants at Harley Miller Law Firm.

Harley Miller Law Firm

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: luatminhnguyen.com or hmlf.vn
• Hotline: + 84 9372 15585