Upholding achievements, synchronously implementing solutions

On March 7, VSS Deputy Director General Tran Dinh Lieu had a working session with Gia Lai Social Security Office on the implementation of tasks in 2023.

Speaking at the event, Director of Gia Lai Social Security Office Tran Van Luc said the implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies in the province has achieved encouraging outcomes. By the end of February 2023, there were 80,359 people joining the compulsory social insurance scheme, up 2,834 people year-on-year; and 1,294,269 health insurance participants, a rise of 0.2 per cent over the same period last year.

Illustrative image (VSS)

At the beginning of 2023, Gia Lai Social Security Office advanced funds for the health insurance-based medical examination and treatment at 36 of the total 36 healthcare facilities in the first quarter, ensuring sufficient medicine for medical examination and treatment in the locality. In the first two months, the provincial Social Security Office paid over VND114.4 billion (US$4.8 million) worth of medical examination and treatment costs for 223,344 people, up 42 per cent and 60 per cent respectively over the same period last year.

The working session also heard about difficulties and shortcomings related to the assessment and payment of health insurance-based medical examination and treatment expenses at certain healthcare facilities in the locality; and the settlement of the overuse of funds. On the occasion, the local social security office asked about the delayed financial support of 1 per cent from the State budget for the Unemployment Insurance Fund from 2011 to 2024. All the queries received satisfactory feedback from the VSS’ competent units.

Addressing the event, Deputy Chairman of Gia Lai Province’s People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich said the locality is facing certain challenges, such as 46 per cent of local people are ethnic groups; 10.2 per cent of the local people remain poor and 43 communes have extremely disadvantageous circumstances.

Therefore, to reach the target of over 90 per cent of the population joining the health insurance system, VSS should consider and propose to the Government to adjust the health insurance participation rate in 2023-2025 for the provine (86 per cent in 2023, 88 per cent in 2024, and 90 per cent in 2025). Regarding shortcomings in the payment of health insurance-covered medical costs, it is significant that VSS helps to resolve them or to propose to higher authorities for timely settlement.

Acknowledging the leadership and directions of the provincial People’s Committee towards the implementation of social security policies in the locality, VSS Deputy Director General Tran Dinh Lieu called for the People’s Committee to continue directing and facilitating Gia Lai Social Security Office to perform the assigned tasks. Regarding shortcomings and difficulties beyond VSS’s authority, the Deputy Director General said VSS will report to the VSS Board of Commissioners or work with competent ministries and industries to have specific responses and instructions.

Regarding the proposal to adjust the health insurance participation rate for the 2023-2025 period, the Deputy Director General asked competent authorities to develop a specific project which clearly states existing difficulties and shortcomings as well as solutions, based on which VSS will propose to higher authorities for consideration.

He called for Gia Lai Social Security Office to continue upholding achievements and closely follow instructions from the Central and provincial authorities, and to work with relevant local agencies to expand and maintain the social insurance and health insurance participants in 2023 and the coming years.

Illustrative image (VSS)

Enhanced communications, increased participation

During a working session with Kon Tum Social Security Office, Director Vu Manh Chu said the provincial social security office accomplished and exceeded the plans assigned for 2022.

Upholding such positive outcomes, from the beginning of 2023, Kon Tum Social Security Office set specific targets for each district and city. The office has also strengthened and diversified communication, and achieved concrete and practical results.

By the end of February 2023, there were 53,308 social insurance participants, equal to 90.23 per cent of the plan; 34,305 unemployment insurance participants, reaching 91.01 per cent of the plan; and 499,384 health insurance participants, covering 95.68 per cent of the local population. The total collection of social insurance and health insurance premiums is VND202,552 billion (over US$8.6 billion), equal to 14.94 per cent of the plan; whilst the delayed contribution is VND35.3 billion ($1.5 million), equal to 2.15 per cent of the total premiums.

Praising efforts made by Kon Tum Social Security Office, Deputy Director General Tran Dinh Lieu pointed out difficulties and challenges facing the office in 2023 and called for the office to stay active, creative and united to overcome these difficulties and challenges to successfully complete assigned tasks. 

He asked Kon Tum Social Security Office to concentrate on expanding and increasing insurance participants; accelerating the collection of insurance premiums; synchronously taking measures to drastically reduce the delayed and evaded contribution of social insurance and health insurance premiums; and strengthening assessment to help balance the health insurance fund.

Of note, the Deputy Director General stressed that Kon Tum Social Insurance Office needed to promote internal solidarity and take full use of the directions of the local authorities in the implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies; to proactively work with relevant departments, industries, districts’ People’s Committees and units to review work plans in each particular area to successfully perform tasks set for the year; to strengthen inspection; and to increase communication, administrative procedure reform and the application of information technology, among others./.