Overview of the working session

Having a welcome speech for the USABC Mission to pay a working visit to VSS, Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh emphasized that under the framework of Comprehensive Partnership cooperation between Vietnam and the United States, VSS has implemented many cooperative activities with US partners, including USABC. Since 2019, VSS and the USABC have had a number of activities to share experiences in implementing US health insurance policies, consulting with experts on the safe and reasonable procurement and use of drugs in medical examinations and treatment covered by heath insurance.

Notably, with the consensus and direction of the Prime Minister, VSS and USABC signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties. During the business trip to the United States, the VSS delegation chaired by General Director Nguyen The Manh had a working session with President and General Director of the US-ASEAN Business Council Ted Osius. The two sides reviewed the cooperation situation and proposed specific cooperation contents, including implementing the Memorandum of Understanding through the signing of the Action Plan for the period 2022-2024. "Today's working session between VSS and USABC aims to continue implementing and concretizing cooperative activities between the two sides" - Mr. Dao Viet Anh emphasized.

Accordingly, Anh requested that at the working session, delegates should focus on discussing contents related to amending the Health Insurance Law as well as giving recommendations and lessons learned in organizing and implementing health insurance. At the same time, propose cooperation contents between the two Parties in 2024.

Expressing sincere thanks to VSS delegation for taking the time to welcome the USABC mission, Mr. Brian McFeeters expressed his joy at the close coordination as well as the results achieved under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two Parties. At the same time, Mr. Brian McFeeters also emphasized that the contents raised by VSS are also the issues that his Mission is interested in and wish to discuss.

Illustrative image (Vietnamplus)

At the session, the USABC mission members shared the desired recommendations of US businesses with VSS, including ones related to supplementing the list of drugs covered by the Health Insurance Fund; The supplementary health insurance package is being proposed to be amended in the Health Insurance Law; free drug support program for patients; diversify health insurance benefit packages in the Health Insurance Law; Solutions for health insurance payments for treatment of rare diseases...

The members also expressed appreciation for the results of Vietnam's development of universal health insurance. Along with increasing health insurance coverage, VSS will certainly encounter many difficulties when it has to ensure payment management for a large number of health insurance medical examinations and treatments every year. The fact raises issues related to policy development, administration, health insurance assessment as well as issues related to drug use effectiveness, including treatment effectiveness and economic efficiency. US businesses expressed their desire to promote support for VSS through sharing research on drugs and drug using effectiveness, thereby, making recommendations, adjusting policies, and improving efficiency. implementation organization.

Noting and absorbing the opinions and recommendations of the members of the USABC Mision, Anh shared that Vietnam has been pursuing the goal of universal health insurance, identifying health insurance policy as a pillar of social security, in which, VSS, as the implementing agency, has coordinated with relevant ministries and branches to implement health insurance policies to ensure benefits for participants. "During the participation process, VSS acknowledged and continued to study the proposals and recommendations of the members to ensure feasibility and implement the goal of universal health insurance."

Delegates took souvenir photos

Previously, with the consensus and direction of the Prime Minister, VSS attended the Prime Minister's working session with the USABC Council on March 8th, 2022; and signed a Memorandum of Understanding between VSS and the Council in the field of health insurance implementation on March 9, 2022. The goal of the Memorandum of Understanding is to strengthen cooperation between VSS and USABC in the field of health insurance implementation, in which the two Parties share common interests and create a favorable environment to promote regular exchanges between between the United States and VSS, aiming to develop sustainable universal health insurance; Create a favorable environment for the Vietnamese peoples to access medical care and use quality, safe and effective health insurance.
Implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed on March 9, 2022 between VSS and the US-ASEAN Business Council, during a business trip to the United States of VSS delegation chaired by General Director Nguyen The Manh had a working session with President and General Director of the US-ASEAN Business Council Ted Osius. The two sides reviewed the cooperation situation and proposed specific cooperation contents, including implementing the Memorandum of Understanding through the signing of the Action Plan for the period 2022-2024./.