Mr. Dinh Duy Hung, Deputy Head of the Department of Social Insurance Book and Health Insurance Card (VSS), provided more specific insights on this issue.

Reporter (R): Protecting and comprehensively caring for the health and overall development of the younger generation through student health insurance policies has received special attention from our Party and State. How has this attention been translated into specific viewpoints, objectives, tasks, and implementation measures, sir?

Mr. Hung: Health insurance is a significant policy of the Party and the State, serving as one of the main pillars of the social security system. The implementation of health insurance policies in general, and student health insurance in particular, plays a crucial role by safeguarding and comprehensively caring for the health and development of the people, especially the future young generation of the country. In recent years, our Party and State have prioritized the task of constructing and improving health insurance policies as a whole, as well as providing guidance and organizing the implementation of student health insurance policies.

Mr. Dinh Duy Hung, Deputy Head of the Department of Social Insurance Book and Health Insurance Card (VSS)

With the goal of accelerating the nationwide implementation of health insurance, based on Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW dated November 22, 2012, issued by the Politburo, Resolution No. 68/2013/QH13 dated November 29, 2013, issued by the National Assembly, and Directive No. 05/CT-TTg dated April 2, 2015, on strengthening the implementation of social and health insurance policies and laws, on June 28, 2016, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1167/QD-TTg regarding the adjustment of targets for implementing health insurance.

R: In addition to the 30% financial support for student health insurance contributions from the state budget, many provinces and cities have implemented additional mechanisms and policies to encourage students to participate in health insurance. Can you provide information on the total number of provinces and cities that have implemented this additional support, contributing effectively to healthcare and comprehensive development for the younger generation?

Mr. Hung: In recent years, alongside the 30% financial support for student health insurance contributions from the state budget, many provinces and cities have shown concern and balanced resources from local budgets and mobilized social resources to provide additional support for student health insurance contributions within their respective areas. In 2022, 27 provinces and cities provided additional support for student health insurance contributions.

R: In recent years, the VSS has made efforts to coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to effectively implement the student health insurance policy, achieving remarkable results. How do you evaluate these outstanding achievements?

Mr. Hung: Students account for over 20% of the country's population and play a crucial role as the future owners of the nation. Increasing the participation rate of students in health insurance not only holds significant importance in achieving the goal of universal health insurance coverage but also contributes positively to the country's innovation and development.

In recent years, the specific implementation of party guidelines, health insurance policies, and laws, along with the active and close coordination between the VSS and the Ministry of Education and Training in communication and effective implementation of the student health insurance policy, have yielded positive results. As a result, the participation rate of students in health insurance has gradually increased over the years, and we are now approaching the goal of achieving 100% coverage of students in health insurance.

VSS Director-General Nguyen The Manh visited and provided health insurance cards (BHYT) to children in difficult circumstances.

R: Student health insurance brings many benefits and practical rights for participants. However, there are still some students who have not yet enrolled in health insurance. In response to this situation, the sector has been, is currently, and will continue to focus on implementing what solutions to achieve 100% health insurance coverage for students?

Mr. Hung: So far, the rate of student participation in BHYT in our country has approached the goal of 100% coverage for students. However, there is still a small group of students who are not fully aware of the rights and humanitarian nature of the student health insurance policy, so they have not enrolled in health insurance (mainly students from the second year onwards in universities, colleges, and vocational schools).

With the determination to achieve the goal of 100% student participation in health insurance and contribute to the implementation of universal health insurance, the VSS has been, is currently, and will continue to implement a coherent set of key tasks and solutions, including:

Firstly, directing provincial and municipal social security agencies to continue advising the People's Committees of provinces and the Department of Social and Health Insurance Implementation, such as assigning specific tasks to relevant sectors to achieve the goal of 100% student participation in health insurance; setting targets for the participation rate of students in health insurance for each school and making the rate of student participation in student health insurance one of the evaluation and classification criteria; providing additional support for health insurance contributions for students, etc.

Secondly, continuing to enhance communication about student health insurance, with a focus on communication to parents and each student to deeply understand the rights and obligations of participating in health insurance, through conveying information about the humanitarian nature of health insurance, the effectiveness of health care services with health insurance for students, and cases where high costs are covered by the health insurance fund.

Thirdly, ensuring convenience in administrative procedures, strengthening and improving the quality of electronic transactions to facilitate participants. Conducting a review and classification of the list of students in the household database to actively encourage cases that have not yet enrolled in health insurance or whose health insurance is about to expire.

Fourthly, close coordination between Social Security agencies at all levels and the Ministry of Education and Training at the same level to organize conferences to review, evaluate, disseminate, and promote health insurance policies to all schools; issuing guidelines to schools in the area to collect health insurance contributions from students in accordance with regulations.

Fifthly, close coordination with the health sector and health insurance providers to ensure healthcare services and health care rights for students with health insurance.

To ensure the effectiveness of the organization of student health insurance, the VSS is currently closely coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Training to implement the assigned tasks in Government Project 06 on developing data applications for population, identification, and electronic authentication to serve national digital transformation in the period 2022-2025, with a vision to 2030.

Sincerely thank you, sir.