The delegation worked with the French Ministry of Health and Prevention

* In the French Republic

Within the framework of the business trip, in the French Republic, the VSS Delegation worked with the French Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Federation of French Hospitals, the French Pharmaceutical Association and Sanofi Group.

Welcoming the VSS Delegation, the French Ministry of Health and Prevention introduced an overview of the social security and health insurance system; payment situation and health insurance revenue and expenditure issues in France. Accordingly, the French Ministry of Health and Prevention has the function and mission to organize prevention and care for people's health; Coordinate with relevant agencies to implement social insurance programs, including retirement benefits, family benefits, labor accident and occupational disease benefits, maternity benefits, and coordinate to develop the Law on social security finance and supervise the implementation of this law.

At the meeting, the two sides had practical and positive exchanges on the overview of the social security and health insurance systems; as well as agree to continue to cooperate, exchange and share experiences in policy implementation.

The delegation worked with the Federation of French Hospitals

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Vincent Gogh - Chief of Office of the Federation of French Hospitals (FHF) said that the FHF was established in 1924  on the basis  of merging 5 inter-regional hospital associations. It has been operating in the non-profit principal, the including more than 1,000 public health facilities and various public medical and social care acilities, aiming to look for solutions and initiatives to improve the people's health, promote the development of public sector hospitals. In addition, Mr. Vincent Gogh also shared an overview of the health insurance system in France, general information about public health facilities within the Federation's management; advantages, challenges, and difficulties in implementing the Federation's tasks.

At the meeting with the French Pharmaceutical Association (LEEM), the delegation was provided with an introduction to the Association's overview as well as the French healthcare system. LEEM Association is a professional organization with more than 260 member businesses operating in the pharmaceutical field in France, ranging from research and development, preparation, production, and distribution of drugs - accounting for 98% of revenue from the French pharmaceutical sector. .

In addition to the function of representing and protecting the interests of member businesses, LEEM also plays an important role in determining and managing drug prices through negotiating and signing annual framework agreements with the Government, participating in Dialogue between relevant parties (Government, Patient Association, Doctors Association), propagating and guiding the people to use safely and reasonably drugs.

Also at the meeting, the two sides had in-depth discussions about the health system in France, approches to manage prices of drugs and medical supplies paid by the health insurance fund, and build and manage drug lists paid by the health insurance fund, solutions to support medical costs at hospitals and medical facilities.

The two sides highly agreed on the plan to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation between VSS and the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in which LEEM is the implementing partner.

The delegation worked with Sanofi Group

Sanofi is a French multinational pharmaceutical corporation, currently present in over 90 countries, including 69 manufacturing plants in 32 countries and 21 research and development centers worldwide. At the meeting with Sanofi Group, the delegation was provided with general information about the Group's orientation, vision, and strategy in the development process. In addition, the Group's Communications Director also introduced brand recognition solutions, communication strategies to raise people's awareness, and modern communication methods that are being applied and deployed effectively at Sanofi.

Sharing with Sanofi’s representatives, Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh said that communication to raise awareness of participants is also one of the top priority tasks of VSS. Therefore, the two sides agreed to strengthen connections and continue to share experiences in topics of mutual interest.

* In Portugal

Within the framework of the business trip to Portugal, the VSS Delegation had a comprehensive working program with the Portuguese Ministry of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, the General Department of Social Security, and the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security of Portugal. Portuguese Social Security, Portuguese Financial Institution and the International Labor Organization (ILO) Office in Lisbon.

The delegation worked with the Portuguese Social Security Organization

On behalf of the social security agencies in Portugal, Ms. Ana Vasques - Director of the Portuguese Social Security Organization warmly welcomed the VSS Delegation to pay a working visit  in Portugal. Ms. Ana Vasques and leaders representing Portuguese social security agencies introduced to the delegation an overview of the social security system in Portugal, and the status of policy implementation for the retirees, social services provided to the people and experiences in implementing communication campaigns and programs to raise awareness of participants and the implementation and application of digitalization in  payment for policy regimes.

The delegation paid a visit to the One-Stop Transaction Office, the people reception department of the Portuguese Social Security Organization

The delegation also paid a visit to the One-Stop Transaction Office, the people reception department of the Portuguese Social Security Organization. At the same time, it also worked with the Portuguese Social Security Financial Institution - an organization under the Portuguese Ministry of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security.

The Portuguese Social Security Financial Institution has the functions and tasks of managing social insurance revenues, supervising and managing payments of social insurance benefits, investing and developing social insurance funds. Welcoming the delegation, Ms. Teresa Fernandes - Director of the Portuguese Social Security Financial Institution shared about the situation of social security financial management in Portugal; Introducing an overview of the structure, functions, tasks as well as future plans and strategic vision. This includes the management of social insurance fund revenues and expenditures; Inspect and examine social insurance revenue and expenditure; contents on investment and development of social insurance funds.

The delegation worked with the Portuguese Social Security Financial Institution

In an atmosphere of friendship and cooperation, Portuguese social security agencies and organizations wish to continue to cooperate with VSS to exchange and share experiences in implementing social insurance policies, in fund collection and payment management, payment  management regimes, social insurance fund management and investment...

The VSS delegation concludes fruitful visit to the French Republic and Portugal. The  experiences gained from the visit will be a valuable reference source to support VSS in improving management capacity and implementation of social and health insurance policies in Vietnam.