She was speaking while presiding over the 39th session of the NA Standing Committee in Hanoi on November 15.

 An overview of the meeting. Photo quochoi.vn

Meeting public interests

Expressing his agreement with the report of the NA Social Affairs Committee on the draft amended law, Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Thanh Tinh contributed opinions on insurance beneficiaries, scope of benefits of health insurance participants, payment of health insurance medical examination and treatment costs, regulations on rights and responsibilities of health insurance organisations.

Deputy General Director of Vietnam Social Security (VSS) Nguyen Duc Hoa said the VSS coordinated with the Ministry of Health and Government agencies to offer consultations and complete the draft amended health insurance law.

After the NA’s discussion, the VSS also worked with the NA Social Affairs Committee to finalise the draft law.

According to Hoa, the draft law on health insurance has essentially met public expectations by introducing several breakthrough features on health insurance cards for medical examination and treatment.

He also elaborated on the subjects, extent of benefits, rights and responsibilities outlined in the law.

VSS Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Hoa speaks at the session. Photo quochoi.vn

Agreeing with the verification report of the NA Social Affairs Committee, Le Tan Toi, chairman of the NA National Defence and Security Committee, said the draft law is eligible for approval at the NA eighth session.

He proposed adding “former people's public security officer" in the list of health insurance participants detailed in the Point e, Clause 3, Article 12.

Hoang Thanh Tung, chairman of the NA's Committee for Legal Affairs, commented on the law’s effectiveness in practice after the NA passes the draft law while Chairman of NA Committee for Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh gave his feedback on the collection of health insurance premiums at schools.

High consensus

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said the draft amended law on health insurance has so far received high consensus.

All NA deputies’ opinions are welcoming and will be reviewed by the ministry and NA Social Affairs Committee, she said.

 Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan delivers a speech at the session. Photo quochoi.vn

Minister Lan said that January 1, 2025 when the law is set to take effect is appropriate time to catch up with the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment and ensure that there are no legal gaps in enactment.

The ministry has considered the views of NA deputies at the most recent NA Standing Committee meeting with regard to level transfer.

The ministry has worked with the NA Social Affairs Committee to prepare scenarios on cases of necessary level transfer, she said.

Accordingly, patients who need surgery or have severe illnesses must be transferred to higher level medical facilities.

The Minister of Health also discussed with lawmakers on remote medical examination and treatment, family medicine and health insurance benefits.

Chairwoman of the NA Social Affairs Nguyen Thuy Anh at the session. Photo quochoi.vn

Nguyen Thuy Anh, chairwoman of the NA Social Affairs Committee said after this meeting, the verification agency will review the NA deputies’ feedback and try to send a document to the NA Committee for Legal Affairs within November 15 for technical evaluation.

The NA Social Affairs Committee will submit a report to the NA vice chairmen to send a document to the Government for official comments on the draft law, she said.

NA vice chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh concluded the meeting by stating that the draft Law has basically met the objectives and viewpoints of law amendments and supplements.

She asked for a comprehensive overhaul of the draft amended law to address obstacles identified.

 NA vice chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh concluded the discussion. Photo quochoi.vn

The Government submitted the draft law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Health Insurance Law to the NA on the morning of October 24, 2024 at the eighth Session.

In the afternoon of the same day, the NA held group discussions over the draft law

The law was discussed at a NA plenary session on the afternoon of October 31.

The NA is anticipated to vote in favour of the bill by the afternoon of November 27, 2024./.