On August 14^th VSS’ Deputy Director Tran Dinh Lieu worked to grasp SI and HI policy implementation in the context of reorganizing two-tier local government.

In practice of Dong Da grassroots social security office (Hanoi City), it is necessary to propose effective methods on propagandizing and mobilizing people’s participation in certain areas and adjust cooperation methods among agencies to better serve people. This aims to simplify the processes and create favorable conditions for the people, especially the old and people facing difficult circumstances to approach to policy.

 Beside the administrative procedure reform, enhancing local health facilities’ capacity plays an important role in ensuring social security effectiveness. Commune health stations which directly examine and treat disease to people with HI card needs to be supplemented with both human resources and medical supplies. When the local health facilities operate efficiently, the people will feel more secure in healthcare assess, contributing to disseminate HI policy to all classes in community.

The Dong Da Social Security Office has reported several difficulties during deployment. Due to occasional technical issues in some professional software, certain steps have to be  manually handled that affect task efficiency and quality. Integration with national database on population is still being finalized, therefore, several records do not match with identification information. Besides, many pensioners receiving payments via ATM haven’t updated their personal information creating difficults for payment and management. Promoting and mobilizing people to participate voluntary HI faces with difficulty on administrative units separation and merger.

Dong Da grassroots social security office needs to focus on the following essential duties in the forthcoming period.

Firstly, to closely follow the assigned expansion target of SI, HI participation; specific task assignment, periodical progress evaluation, flexible adjustment on implementation method if required.

Secondly, to promote the network of collection agents and resident groups; to directly approach potential groups.

Thirdly, to enhance IT application on receiving and processing records; to finalize data connectivity with healthcare facilities, schools and the national population database.

Fourthly, to strictly control the cost of HI medical examination and treatment to prevent abuse and ensure timely settlement of people’s benefits.

Finally, to closely cooperate with health facilities, schools, socio-political units to mobilize broader SI and HI participation./.