Delivering a report on supplementary assessment of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and State budget in 2023 and in the first months of 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai said the nation's socio-economy has experienced a steady recovery in recent times. He highlighted that the growth rate for the upcoming quarter surpasses that of the previous quarter. Furthermore, he added, with social security being guaranteed, the country has effectively achieved its overall goals.

 General Director of the Vietnam Social Security Nguyen The Manh discusses social  and health insurance policy implementation

As a Government agency responsible for implementing social insurance and health insurance policies, which are two main pillars of the social security system, the Vietnam Social Security (VSS) has made efforts and demonstrated determination to achieve its targets in 2023 and the early months of 2024, contributing to the overall improvement of the nation's performance.

Rapid, steady insurance coverage expansion

Under the motto “Solidarity, discipline, flexibility, creativity, professionalism, efficiency", the Vietnam social security industry has taken the people and businesses as the subject, the service centre and promoted the application of IT and digital transformation in all professional activities, in order to meet the requirements of ensuring national social security and better serve citizens.

The industry has strived to surpass the goal of reducing late contributions of insurance premiums while sustainably increasing the number of people covered by health, unemployment, and social insurance.

There has been an annual increase in the number of people enrolled in unemployment, health, and social insurance.

Expanding insurance coverage

By the end of 2023, over 18.2 million individuals had enrolled in social insurance, representing 39.25 per cent of the working age group.

Nearly 1.83 million people voluntarily enrolled in social insurance, making up approximately 3.92 per cent of the working population in that specific age bracket, thus exceeding the target by 1.42 per cent.

The number of compulsory social insurance participants was nearly 14.7 million people, making up 31.58 per cent of the labour force in the age group.

The percentage of people with health insurance has been steadily increasing annually and is getting closer to the target of universal coverage.

The social and health insurance coverage keeps rising fast and steadily with participants’ rights ensured

The coverage health insurance rate increased from 91.1 per cent in 2021 to 92.04 per cent in 2022 and 93.35 per cent or over 93.3 million people in 2023.

In the first four months of 2024, the number of compulsory social insurance participants increased by 1.56 per cent over the same period last year.

The number of voluntary social insurance, unemployment insurance and health insurance surged by 3.71 per cent, 1.74 per cent and 0.02 per cent year on year, respectively.

Maintaining the growth rate of social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance in difficult conditions once again affirms the VSS’s steadfastness, determination, and efforts to complete goals.

Protecting participants’ rights

In 2023, the whole industry provided monthly pension and social insurance benefits to 95,670 individuals, as well as illness, maternity, convalescence, and health rehabilitation benefits to more than 8.8 million people.

It coordinated with the labour, invalids and social affairs sector to settle for over 1.1 million people entitled to unemployment insurance benefits and 19,185 people receiving vocational training support.

Approximately 174.8 million medical examinations and treatments across the nation were paid for by health insurance in 2023. This is a rise of approximately 23.4 million medical exams and treatments over the previous year.

The total amount spent on medical examinations and treatments under health insurance was around VNĐ124.3 trillion (US$4.8 billion). Many people have benefited from medical examination and treatment payments totalling billions of dong from the health insurance fund because they have participated in the programme.

The VSS has coordinated with the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies to propose the Government issue resolutions to promptly remove difficulties in medical examination and treatment under health insurance.

The proactive and timely response of the VSS in resolving and paying benefits to participants demonstrates a sense of responsibility and efforts to improve its service quality and ensure social security.

This helps support and stabilise the lives of workers, especially those who lost jobs. The report on voters’ concerns submitted to the 15th NA by the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee at its seventh sitting states that the voters highly valued those efforts.

People and businesses enjoy digital transformation’s benefits

 Digital transformation brings huge benefits to people and businesses

With a strong commitment to creating and advancing a modern and professional social security industry in Vietnam, for the satisfaction of people and businesses, on the basis of available information technology foundation and infrastructure, the VSS has emerged as one of the leading ministries and sectors in building a digital Government. The insurance participants and beneficiaries have enjoyed multiple benefits from the obtained results.

The VSS has been closely coordinating with the Ministry of Public Security in data synchronisation and implementing major utilities.

Regarding the scheme on developing the application of data on population, identification, electronic authentication data for national digital transformation in the 2022-25 period, with a vision toward 2030 (Project 06), the VSS is the first unit to successfully connect to the national population database as soon as it is put into official operation.

As of April 30, 2024, the VSS’ system has verified over 96.8 million population information in the database managed by the VSS with the national population database. This is an important premise to standardise data serving for administrative procedure management, reform, and interconnection, reducing citizen paperwork.

The sector has made efforts to promote cashless payment insurance scheme. To date, about 64 per cent of beneficiaries have received social insurance and unemployment benefits through personal accounts in urban areas, an increase of about 3 per cent compared to 2022.

On March 22, 2024, the VSS and the Ministry of Public Security agreed on implementing cashless payment methods in the disbursement of pensions and social insurance benefits on the basis of the national population database.

Timely respond to citizens’ petitions

 VSS general director Nguyen The Manh listens to workers’ opinions on social  and health insurance policy implementation

The VSS has serviced a sizable population with a high participation rate in social insurance, health insurance, and health insurance.

One of its most significant responsibilities is always to receive and address public petitions.

The sector receives citizen feedback through a variety of channels, such as the Government Office channel, the VSS Portal, which has a dedicated section for recommendations and feedback, email, social media fan pages, and the customer service and support hotline 1900 9068.
The VSS also organises dialogues on social insurance and health insurance policies on media and its web portal.

Additionally, the VSS hosts discussions on health insurance and social insurance policies in the media and on its website.
When voters submit concerns and opinions about the sector to the NA, the VSS always responds quickly with papers to address issues within its authority.