This was the opinion made by the Deputy General Director of Vietnam Social Security Dao Viet Anh in an interview with the Reporter of Vietnam Social Security Portal on the role of news agencies in coordination on social insurance and health insurance on the occasion of the 95th Anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2020).

Deputy General Director of Vietnam Social Security Dao Viet Anh

Reporter: In recent years, Vietnam Social Security has always attached importance to the coordination with news agencies in the implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies. As the industry's communications director, how do you assess the benefits of this collaboration?

Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh:

First of all, I must say that this is a detailed, interesting and difficult question. It is interesting since this content has always been of special interest to the society. And to me, it is difficult as due to the time limit, it is impossible to tell the importance and contribution of the media agencies in the results of implementing the policies of the Social Insurance Industry.

To organize the effective implementation of social insurance, health insurance policies, Vietnam Social Security has always identified information and communication as one of the key tasks of the sector. In particular, the coordination with the news agencies is specially appreciated with immense innovation, which achieved positive results.

Recently, the news agencies and the media have performed well as a bridge to bring the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws on social insurance and health insurance to life; contributed to raising awareness and consolidating beliefs of all strata in the country's social security policy system.

News, articles, programs, etc. on social insurance and health insurance are increasingly concerned by news agencies, which are enhanced in terms of duration, content and form. Thereby, a "picture" of social insurance and health insurance was created colorfully and attractively with highlights that easily attracts the public. Information about the benefits, superiorities and changes in social insurance and health insurance policies has been posted and updated to help people, employees and employers change their mindset, which received consensus and active participation in the policies.

Besides, the press has also become an important information channel in detecting and alerting people, preventing violations of the law on social insurance and health insurance and preventing abuse and profiteering of social insurance and health insurance funds. The articles and reports reflecting the situation of evasion and outstanding debts of social insurance and health insurance, collecting social insurance books, taking advantage of the health insurance, medical examination and treatment fund, sickness and maternity fund, etc. helped the authorities gather more information to promptly handle and bring positive effects in organizing and implementing the Law on Social Insurance and the Law on Health Insurance; at the same time, promoting the reputation and affirming the position of Vietnam Social Security in organizing effective implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies, contributing to ensuring social security for people and employees.

Reporter: It can be seen that the press is making a great contribution to the implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies in our country. Can you list out some specific numbers and results; especially during the COVID-19 epidemic?

Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh:

Awareness is a process, especially for social security policies that often take time for people to recognize and fully admit the practical benefits of the policy. In fact, most people only fully understand the benefits and the humanity of a social security policy once they enjoy it or once they suffer from sickness or incapable of working. Therefore, to "shorten" this process and change people's perceptions, information should be given regularly, continuously and innovatively.

The press is an essential linkage in applying social and health insurance policies

It has been shown in the results and the statistics of health insurance communication activities over the past time that, the news agencies and the press have been functioning well. The number of news, articles and programs published in this field have steadily increased over the years. New forms and types of communication have been applied, meeting the public's market and creating a higher communication value. Particularly in 2019, according to the statistics of Vietnam Social Security, the whole country had over 13,000 news, articles, talks, categories, programs, etc. On average, there were about 30-50 news and articles; social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance policies and the implementation are published in the central and local newspapers (increased 30% compared to 2018).

The news agencies have focused on building specialized pages, categories and programs on social insurance and health insurance. The online communication trend is growing in popularity; thousands of infographic media events, Mega Story, media clips, dialogues, online talks, news clips, game shows, etc. have been elaborately held, bringing practical efficiency in the information and communication activities on social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance.

In the context of the COVID-19 epidemic and the application of social distancing, the “linkage” role of information and communication between social security agencies and people is even more prominent. Only in the first 5 months of 2020, there were more than 5,200 news and articles reflecting the activities of the social insurance industry and propaganda of policies of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance posted on news agencies and newspapers. From January 31 to April 15, 2020, the number of news articles in the media on the policies of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance sharply increased compared to the previous period. On average, 66 news and articles were published per day, an increase of 120% compared to the days without COVID-19 in Vietnam; the peak reached 142 news and articles, etc.

The above figures have shown the companionship and support from the news agencies on social insurance and health insurance policies in all contexts. Thanks to such effective support along with the participation and coordination of the concerned ministries, branches and localities and the determination and efforts of the social insurance industry, up to now, the number of participants in compulsory social insurance, voluntary social insurance and health insurance has all increased over the same period in 2019. The benefits of participants in social insurance and health insurance are guaranteed and better served, even during the social distancing period.

Reporter: In order to maintain the achieved results and further improve the effectiveness of communication on social insurance and health insurance, what do you think are the solutions that Vietnam Social Security should continue to apply?

Deputy General Director Dao Viet Anh:

The Prime Minister's decision approving the scheme to renovate the social insurance communication work in the period of 2020-2025 specifically stated the solutions and the social insurance industry shall be responsible for an effective implementation of the proposed solutions. Receiving more approach and information will help the press perform well in communication on social insurance and health insurance. Therefore, in the coming time, Vietnam Social Security will continue to maintain and better organize conferences on providing periodic and irregular information on social insurance and health insurance policies for journalists, reporters and editors of the news agencies.

Vietnam Social Security will continue to maintain and better organize conferences on providing periodic and irregular information on social insurance and health insurance policies.

In addition to providing periodic information at meetings and conferences, Vietnam Social Security will maintain the provision of written information to the press agencies as soon as new information on policies or highlighted activities is available. Vietnam Social Security will also continue to organize field trips for journalists, reporters and editors so that the articles can be more complete, deeper and more multi-dimensional; better meeting people’s needs of social insurance and health insurance policies.

At the same time, the training program on knowledge about social insurance and health insurance for journalists, reporters and editors in charge of press agencies nationwide will also be annually maintained by Vietnam Social Security. In fact, this is an opportunity for specialized journalists to update and enhance knowledge from leading experts of the ministries, branches and agencies of the National Assembly. This also acts as an opportunity for reporters in the same field to share experiences, exchange and contribute ideas, thereby improving the quality of the press works on social security.

Besides coordinating with the press agencies, Vietnam Social Security will continue to strengthen the internal communication work of the Sector. The agency will innovate communication in both content and form in the direction of promoting communication on e-portals, social networks, smartphones, multimedia messages, which meets the specific needs of each individual and each target group. We will promote successful forms of communication in practice, such as: dialogues, talks; competitions on learning about social insurance and health insurance policies for workers, farmers, women, pupils and students; propagating via radio systems, law bookcases of communes, wards and townships in densely populated areas. Simultaneously, we will advance the service of supporting, consulting and policy answers via the Call Center system; innovating the editorial work of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance publications in terms of content, language and form so that it would be easy to understand, easy to remember and easy to follow.

Heads of Vietnam Social Security congratulated the Media Center - the focal point cooperating with the news agencies - on Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day

On the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, on behalf of the heads of the Social Insurance Industry, I would like to express my gratefulness and appreciate the positive contributions of the news agencies in performing communication on social insurance and health insurance policies. I wish the journalists, the reporters and the editors good health and success. Hopefully they will continue to show interests and coordinate with Vietnam Social Security to propagate on social insurance and health insurance policies more effectively, contributing to achieving the goal of universal social insurance and health insurance.

Reporter: Thank you for the interview!