Statistics show that students who have not signed up for health insurance are mostly those studying at technical schools, colleges and universities. They are usually in the second year or higher at those schools. At this age, most believe they are healthy and do not consider issues in the future. They are also unaware that buying health insurance is necessary for themselves and the community, while ignoring the principal that buying health insurance now is to enjoy it when one gets older.

Humanitarian meaning

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thi Nghia said that in the new school year of 2019-20, to reach the target of 100 percent of students signing up for health insurance based on the present laws and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s instruction, the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has asked provincial and municipal departments of education and training, universities, academies, colleges and technical schools for teacher training to enthusiastically encourage students to sign up.

The number of students signing up for health insurance must be considered one of the standards with which to assess performance of universities, colleges and schools. All education institutions must strive to reach the target of 100 per cent of students partaking in the health insurance system this school year.

Schools should closely work with social security departments to give guidance and supervise the work of buying health insurance. They should consider timely punishments for those that are not following regulations on health insurance, and develop detailed plans to implement all works related to health insurance for students.

The schools should continue to strengthen and improve the quality of sustainable healthcare at schools associated with healthcare at the grassroots level.

They should also act as consultants for people’s committees at different levels on supportive policies for students to buy health insurance from the local budget. The supportive policies will be based on the minimum assistance level as currently regulated and priority will be given to underprivileged and remote areas.

Schools should educate students and their parents about rights, responsibilities and the role and humanitarian meaning of health insurance policies in students’ healthcare.

Bui Sy Loi, deputy chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, said education to change students’ awareness on the issue was important.

This was not just a personal responsibility, but also the responsibility of the community, he said.

Thus Viet Nam Social Security (VSS), the MoET and concerned organisations should cooperate closely in implementing the policies, so that every student will take part in a good social welfare system like health insurance.

Raising awareness  

Deputy director of the VSS Pham Luong Son said to better implement health insurance for students with the vision of overall coverage, it is necessary to raise awareness, particularly among students’ parents on their responsibilities and benefits when signing up for health insurance.

It was high time to insert topics on social welfare, social security and health insurance into school curriculums, he said.

Concerned organisations should focus on the satisfaction of patients and other people using health insurance at medical stations and hospitals, including students.

At schools, State management bodies must continue completing regulations, which define in detail possible conditions and guidance so that expenses from the health insurance fund will be used effectively. The work is to improve healthcare for students during their time at school.

On the other hand, the social security sector should improve the sense of responsibility of organisations implementing the policies via administrative reform. They should urge education to raise awareness of concerned organisations, schools, teachers, students and their parents. The work aims to ensure everyone understands that taking part in health insurance is not only the responsibility of each person, but also the responsibility of the community and society as a whole./.