According to the report delivered at the conference, in the first half of 2020, the VSS worked closely with ministries, sectors and local authorities to implement the Party and Government’s directions on social security and health insurance.

In particular, the VSS took measures to lift difficulties in production and ensure social security amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the context of the economy hurt by the pandemic, the agency put forwards solutions to accomplish assigned tasks.

There are currently 15 million people participating in the social security scheme. In spite of challenges posed by social distancing, the number of voluntary participants in social security increased by almost 100,000 in the first half of 2020.

It increased the total number of voluntary social security participants to 670,800.

As many as 85.5 million people hold health insurance cards, covering 88.3 per cent of the nationwide population and reaching 97.1 per cent of target.

The sector collected more than VNĐ182.9 trillion in insurance premiums, hitting 45.3 per cent of the yearly target.

The total social security debts with more than one-month interest were more than VNĐ21.2 trillion.

Benefits of insurance card holders were guaranteed during the pandemic. More than 60,500 people received monthly pensions and social insurance benefits, increasing 7.4 per cent compared to the same period last year.

More than 4.5 million people enjoyed sickness, maternity, health recovery benefits.

Health insurance covered more than 77.6 million healthcare check-ups and treatments in the first half.

The VSS also worked with the labour ministry to cover unemployment insurance for 474,622 people.

Participants at the teleconference focused their discussions on solutions that need to be strengthened and implemented in the future.

VSS deputy general director Dao Viet Anh ordered the sector to continue COVID-19 response measures to facilitate production and ensure social security in accordance with the guidance of the Government and the Prime Minister and, at the same time, prepare plans for post-pandemic recovery.

The VSS should resume its work of encouraging more people to participate in social security and health insurance schemes, he said.

The agency has been assigned to collaborate with inter-sectorial inspectors to conduct unscheduled inspections at enterprises that show signs of violations. It should also step up management of healthcare check-ups and treatment covered by the health insurance fund on the online health insurance assessment information system.

The VSS will continue to review and improve the data of households participating in health insurance, issue social insurance codes for participants, strengthen IT application and promote electronic transactions, as well as online public services at levels 3 and 4 to offer better services./.