Heat & haze risk: As El Niño nears, Greater Mekong governments are stepping up cross-border action against forest and peatland fires that can trigger transboundary haze, warning of growing public-health and economic damage. Outdoor workers’ health: Vietnam’s heatwaves are increasingly driving income loss, medical costs and chronic conditions for outdoor workers, but experts say policy protection still has major gaps in implementation. NCD care push: Viatris is running a Vietnam-wide scientific conference series to improve non-communicable disease management, citing NCDs as nearly 80% of deaths in Vietnam. Robotic surgery expansion: Vinmec has launched a nationwide network of high-tech robotic surgery centres, linking multiple hospitals through a shared ecosystem and standardised protocols. Shrimp farming squeeze: Vietnam’s shrimp producers face rising costs (fuel, feed inputs, chemicals) alongside falling farmgate prices, with officials urging longer-term supply agreements and production adjustments. Hanoi development: Hanoi is moving into a new growth phase with a long-term capital master plan and a 2026 Capital Law taking effect July 1, aiming to speed investment and services including healthcare. Health workforce & access: A report highlights how for-profit jail healthcare contracts can discourage hospital trips, raising concerns about inmate suffering and preventable deaths.