The official dispatch stated that, through the monitoring of the VSS and the feedback of patients, at some health care facilities, there have been cases of not timely and adequately providing medicines and medical supplies, especially essential drugs within the scope of benefits of the participants of health insurance. In order to ensure the interests of patients with health insurance, VSS proposes that social security offices of the provinces coordinate with the Department of Health and medical facilities covered by health insurance to immediately implement a number of the following contents:

1. About bidding for procurement and supply of health insurance drugs

First, monitor the drug bidding progress of each concentrated bidding package, additional bidding at the Department of Health and medical facilities to promptly give opinions, avoid the delay in bidding leading to shortage of drugs for treatment and arising the purchase of drugs in contravention of the provisions of the law.

Illustrative image (internet)

Second, participate effectively in the process of selecting drug supply contractors at the bidding councils in order to select contractors capable of providing quality, economical and effective drugs, meeting treatment requirements according to the guidance of the VSS.

Third, coordinate with the Department of Health to direct and guide medical facilities in the area to immediately have solutions to promptly and adequately supply drugs and medical equipment to treat patients with health insurance, ensuring proper implementation of their responsibilities of medical facilities specified at Point b, Clause 2, Article 21 of Decree No. 146/2018/ND-CP dated October 17, 2018 of the Government detailing and guiding a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance: “ensure supply drugs, chemicals, medical supplies and technical services in accordance with professional and technical lines as prescribed by the Minister of Health”.

Fourth, proactively request the Department of Health and hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health to organize procurement according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health for drugs on the list of national-level centralized bidding, drugs applied using the form of price negotiation when there are no bidding results; timely bidding and procurement to meet treatment requirements for drugs of groups 3, 4, and 5 of drugs on the list of national-level centralized drug bidding according to the decentralization of the Ministry of Health; monitor and urge the procurement of drugs to ensure that establishments perform at least 80% of the value of each part of the signed contract for drugs with concentrated bidding as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 37 of Circular No. 15/2019/TT-BYT dated July 11, 2019 of the Ministry of Health stipulating the bidding for drugs at public health facilities.

Vietnam Social Security requests social security offices of provinces and cities to urgently coordinate with the Department of Health to ensure the supply of drugs and medical supplies for medical care using health insurance (Illustrative photo)

2. Regarding procurement and medical supply

First, the social security agencies of provinces in coordination with the Department of Health request the medical facilities in the area to review the bidding results, the number of medical equipment remaining and the expected time to be used up at the medical facility, the estimated time to complete the bidding process to plan and execute the procurement, ensuring adequate and timely supply of medical equipment for medical treatment.

Second, the social security agencies of the provinces actively provide information on the bidding results for medical equipment in localities and units (posted by the VSS on the website) for the local medical equipment procurement councils to consult, select types of medical equipment and develop appropriate plan prices, in accordance with the provisions of the law on bidding.

VSS shall require social security agencies of provinces to urgently implement of the above-mentioned contents; promptly monitor and report to the VSS, the provincial People's Committee on difficulties, problems, inadequacies, suggestions and recommendations in the supply of drugs and medical equipment for patients with insurance coverage for guidance.

* Previously, on June 13, 2022, the VSS issued Official Letter No. 1566/BHXH-CSYT and sent to the Ministry of Health about the drug bidding and procurement, and medical supplies to ensure medical care using health insurance.

In order for the timely supply of drugs and medical equipment to meet the needs of medical care and ensure the interests of patients with health insurance, the VSS proposed the Ministry of Health direct the National Centralized Drug Procurement Center and other units to speed up the bidding process for drugs on the list of drugs with national-level centralized bidding and the list of drugs subject to price negotiation; direct and guide the Department of Health and medical facilities to organize the selection of contractors for drugs on the list of national-level centralized bidding and the list of drugs subject to price negotiation as prescribed; instruct medical facilities to make quick purchases by other forms, in accordance with the Bidding Law and guiding documents, etc., without making patients with insurance purchase drugs and medical equipment on the list of benefits of health insurance participants./.