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Local government plays a “key” role

The Party and State have always paid attention to directing the development and promotion of the implementation of social and health insurance policies, in which the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels in the implementation of social and health insurance policies are greatly appreciated by the Party and State, which has been clearly reflected in many documents, including Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW dated November 22, 2012 of the Politburo on strengthening the Party's leadership over social and health insurance for the period 2012-2020; Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW dated May 23, 2018 of the 12th Party Central Committee on social insurance policy reform, etc.

Determining that the involvement of Party committees and authorities at all levels is one of the key factors that determine the implementation effectiveness of policies on social and health insurance for employees and the people, over the past years, Vietnam Social Security (VSS) has highly appreciated and made the best use of the special attention and support from the Party committees and local authorities. Following the direction of the VSS, the local social security agencies have actively coordinated with relevant departments, agencies and sectors to advise the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Council, and the Provincial People's Committee to issue numerous documents and directives on organization and implementation of policies on social and health insurance; especially solutions to develop social and health insurance in accordance with socio-economic characteristics of each locality.

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Synchronization from direction to execution

In order to fulfill the targets and tasks assigned by the Party and State, along with the active advice of the social security agency, over the years, the organization and implementation of social and health insurance policies in localities have always received the attention and direction of the Party Committees and authorities and the coordination and consensus of relevant departments, agencies and sectors in the locality.

By the end of 2022, 63 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide have consolidated and established a steering committee for the implementation of policies on social, health and unemployment insurance in the area. 56 provinces have included social insurance coverage targets and 61 provinces have included health insurance coverage targets in the Resolution on socio-economic development in their localities. In particular, many provinces have provided additional support from the local budget for participants of voluntary social insurance and self-paying health insurance in addition to the support level of the State.

Specifically, in 2022, 13/63 provinces have provided additional support for participants of voluntary social insurance; 57/63 provinces have provided additional support from 10-30% of health insurance premiums for participants from near-poor households; 27/63 provinces support people working in agriculture, forestry, fishery and salt production with average living standards to participate in household-based health insurance with different levels (3%, 10%, 15%, 20%-70%); 24/63 provinces support people from multidimensionally poor households to participate in health insurance with different levels; 28/63 provinces have provided additional support for students participating in health insurance at various levels (3%, 5%, 10%-30%).

It can be affirmed that, with the participation of the whole political system, social and health insurance policies have come to life and promoted positive effects. Accordingly, the coverage of social and health insurance is increasingly expanded. The number of people participating in compulsory social insurance has increased from 2.3 million in 1995 to over 16.5 million in 2021 (7.2 times higher). The number of people participating in voluntary social insurance has increased from 6,000 people in 2008 to 1.45 million people in 2021 (241.7 times higher). The number of people participating in unemployment insurance has increased from nearly 6 million people in 2009 to 13.4 million people in 2021 (2.24 times higher). The number of people participating in health insurance has increased from 7.1 million people in 1995 to 88.8 million people in 2021 (12.5 times higher), reaching a coverage rate of 91.01% of the population.

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In particular, in 2022, the passing of the Covid-19 pandemic will leave various difficulties and challenges, especially in the industry's participant development. However, with the determination to turn difficulties and challenges into motivation for action, the whole industry has closely followed reality, taking advantage of the leadership and direction of the Government and Prime Minister. Therefore, despite extremely difficult implementation conditions, the coverage targets all increased compared to 2021, and the targets assigned in Resolution No. 01 of the Government are reached. Specifically: the number of people participating in social insurance is estimated at 17.5 million, accounting for 38.07% of the labor force in age; the number of people participating in unemployment insurance is estimated at over 14.3 million, accounting for 31.18% of the labor force in age; the number of people participating in health insurance is estimated at over 91.1 million, reaching the coverage rate of 92.03% of the population.

The active participation of local Party committees and authorities shows the awareness of the Party committees and authorities at all levels about the benefits, and human values; the importance of social and health insurance policies in the social security system of the Party and State has been significantly improved, creating unity in the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels, and consensus in the implementation of social and health insurance policies at all levels and sectors from central to local levels.

In order to continue to strive to achieve the goal of universal social and health insurance as set out in the NA's Resolutions and the Government, in the coming time, the organization and implementation of social and health insurance policies will continue to require stronger participation of the Party committees and local authorities, contributing to the consolidation and creation of high unity in leadership, direction and high consensus of society in the organization and implementation of social and health insurance policies./.