VSS and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union signed Cooperation Regulation for the 2023 - 2027 period.

As of the end of September 2023, there were approximately 17.508 million social insurance participants, representing a 2.48% increase compared to the same period in 2022. Among them, there were about 16.009 million mandatory social insurance participants, which is a 1.78% increase from 2022, while around 1.499 million people participated voluntarily, indicating a 10.7% increase from 2022. Approximately 14.3 million health insurance participants, reflecting a 1.99% increase from the previous year. Additionally, around 91.746 million health insurance participants, marking a 5.02% increase from 2022.

Administrative procedure reform, information technology application, and digital transformation continue to be prioritized. Ongoing administrative procedures are regularly reviewed, simplified, and streamlined to reduce costs, offering maximum convenience to citizens and businesses when dealing with the Social Security Agency. This effort aims to ensure satisfaction, trust, and confidence among participants and beneficiaries of the social and health insurance policies.

Currently, 100% of administrative procedures within the agency are provided as full online public services, integrated into the VSS’ online public service portal, and gradually integrated into the national online public service portal, and gradually intergrated into the national online public service portal. Nationwide, 12,597 healthcare facilities receive health insurance card with chip-embedded Citizen's Identity Cards, accounting for 98.2% of the total number of health insurance healthcare facilities. There have been 43,091,664 successful queries for health insurance card information used  for health insurance transactions. Approximately 62% of social insurance and health insurance beneficiaries receive their benefits through personal bank accounts in urban areas, representing a 1% increase from 2022 and surpassing the government's target of 60% for urban areas three years ahead of schedule (by 2025). There is ongoing work to enhance and expand features and utilities of the "VssID-BHXH number" application, which has seen over 31 million approved and activated accounts for use.

To achieve the mentioned results, amidst the complex and unpredictable global and regional situations, domestic and international challenges, a set of strategies have been employed. Domestically, the country has faced difficulties such as reduced export turnover, a decline in state budget revenues compared to the same period, a shortage of new manufacturing orders, labor force mobility, and economic challenges. The pandemic's impact on domestic enterprises, especially after a prolonged period, has weakened their resilience. Some segments of the population, particularly those in remote and underprivileged areas, ethnic minorities, border regions, and islands, continue to face difficulties in their daily lives…These challenges create risks and exert pressure on macroeconomic management, major fiscal balances, state budgets, investments, consumption, employment, and social well-being. Vietnam's Social Security Agency has taken proactive steps and closely followed the directives of the Communist Party, the National Assembly, the Government, and the guidance of the Prime Minister. It maintains close coordination with various ministries, sectors, local party committees, and government authorities in implementing and organizing social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance systems and policies. It has paid particular attention to implementing and translating the Party's and the State's strategic directions, policies, and resolutions into practical actions and outcomes, as outlined in the Central Committee and the Government's resolutions.

VSS collaborates with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union to organize a conference for disseminating social insurance and health insurance policies to farmers.

Specifically, VSS has proactively collaborated with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Government Office, the Government Inspectorate, the Ministry of Public Security, and the General Department of Taxation, as well as other relevant ministries and agencies, to effectively implement various tasks. These tasks include conducting inspections in the fields of social insurance, occupational safety, and health insurance; drafting the budget plan for social insurance, health insurance, and employment insurance for the year 2023; preparing a draft decision by the Prime Minister on the financial management mechanism of the social insurance, employment insurance, and health insurance funds, as well as the costs associated with managing these funds. They also focus on activities related to digital transformation in accordance with the Prime Minister's Project No. 06. Additionally, they work together to provide advice on the signing of cooperation regulations with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor; furthermore, they collaborate with the General Department of Taxation to implement the new cooperation regulations specified in document No. 1999/QCPH-BHXH-TCT dated July 19, 2021. This cooperation involves the exchange and sharing of data related to businesses, tax payments, and individuals' contributions to social insurance. They also coordinate efforts in conducting inspections and audits to leverage and enhance the participation of mandatory social insurance contributors. Additionally, they provide guidance and directives to the units within their system to develop collaborative programs for implementation at the local level.

Furthermore, VSS has maintained regular and proactive communication and negotiation to address, resolve, and overcome challenges and obstacles to ensure the rights and benefits of participants. This includes addressing issues related to the timing of receiving prolonged loss of working capacity benefits for individuals who now meet the eligibility criteria after their benefits were initially cut. Additionally, they have resolved problems regarding social insurance coverage for employees at labor-intensive units that have not contributed the required amount, as well as addressed overpayments for health insurance coverage at healthcare facilities and ensuring the adequate supply of medicines and medical supplies for health insurance beneficiaries.

The Steering Committee for the implementation of Social and Health Insurance Policies in Quang Tri Province organized a conference to discuss the implementation of Social, Health and Unemployment Insurance policies within their jurisdiction.

In addition, collaborative efforts with the local Party committees and government authorities are always a focus for VSS to strengthen their initiatives. In the first 9 months of 2023, VSS has provided guidance to provincial and city-level social insurance offices to actively advise local party committees and government authorities in enhancing their leadership and direction on implementing social and health insurance policies within their areas. This includes: Advising local government authorities to issue resolutions and action programs to implement social insurance, social protection, and health insurance policies within their jurisdictions; Proposing the inclusion of social, health insurance, and unemployment insurance targets and plans in local resolutions and socioeconomic development programs; Recommending the establishment and issuance of operational regulations and the assignment of members to steering committees for the implementation of social, health insurance, and optimizing the effectiveness of these committees at the provincial and district levels; Advising the Chairpersons of People's Committees at provincial and city levels regarding policies to support the purchase of health insurance cards and voluntary social insurance contributions for those in impoverished households, near-poverty households, policy beneficiary families, and ethnic minorities; Assigning budget estimates and effectively organizing the implementation of revenue and expenditure plans for social, health and unemployment insurance in 2023; Actively coordinating with related ministries and sectors, including the Ministries of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Health, Public Security, and Taxation, to expand social and health insurance participants and intensify inspection and examination activities across sectors.

It can be said that, the collaboration between government authorities and various stakeholders plays a crucial role in reinforcing a high level of unity and consensus in the leadership and direction of implementing social and health insurance policies. In the future, to further expand the coverage of social and health insurance, the organization and implementation of these policies will require even stronger engagement from the entire political system.