Nguyễn Thanh Long is a Vietnamese politician and doctor who served as Minister of Health from July 2020 to his removal from the Communist Party of Vietnam in June 2022 for involvement in the Việt Á corruption scandal. During his term as Minister of Health, he was in acting capacity from July to November 2020. He has been noted for being one of the chief strategists of the response of the Vietnamese government to the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2024, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for taking bribes worth USD 2.25 million.

The Ministry of Health is the government ministry responsible for the governance and guidance of the health, healthcare and health industry of Vietnam. In conjunction with other ministries and the prime minister's office, the Ministry is responsible for creating and promulgating long-term health policy programs such as the "National Strategy on Nutrition for the 2001 - 2010 period" and the "National Policy on Injury Prevention 2002 - 2010". Its main offices are located in Ba Đình District, Hanoi.