SUBJECTIVE UNMET HEALTHCARE NEEDS AMONG VIETNAMESE OLDER PERSONS IN PRE AND POST COVID-19

Tien Thuy Ngoc Doan (Department of Health Economics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi)
Long Thanh Giang (National Economics University)
Tra Thu Doan (School of Trade and International Economics, National Economics University)

Jurnal Administrasi Kesehatan Indonesia
Vol. 14 No. 1 (2026): June

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare access, increasing unmet healthcare needs among older persons. Aims: This study examined changes in subjective unmet healthcare needs among Vietnamese older persons before and after the pandemic and identified contributing factors. Methods: Data from nationally representative surveys conducted in 2019 and 2022 were analyzed using Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition. Results: Subjective unmet healthcare needs declined between 2019 and 2022, with a significant reduction in unmet outpatient care. Education, social participation, and cognitive and memory impairments were key contributors. Conclusion: Policies should strengthen community outreach, caregiver support, age-friendly communication, and care navigation. Keywords: healthcare services, Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, older persons, Viet Nam.