Leaders of the Ministry of Health and Vietnam Social Security signed the Regulation on coordination in the development and implementation of policies and laws on health insurance.

Giving the opening speech, Long emphasized: Over the past time, under the leadership of the Party and State, the implementation of policies and laws on health insurance in our country has gained significant results. Currently, nearly 90% of the Vietnamese population has participated in health insurance, which shall reach 95% with this roadmap. Health insurance is an important financial tool to ensure the operation of the health sector and the medical facilities and to provide better services.

Speaking at the ceremony, Manh came to an agreement with Long on the need for a new coordination regulation with a new vision, replacing the previous one which was signed over ten years ago between the MoF and the VSS.

Manh emphasized: Over the past years, especially the last 5 years, the coordination between the MoH and VSS has achieved new progress, making important contributions to the protection of people's health. It has clearly been shown in the formulation of legal policies on medical examination and treatment; and on health insurance. The two branches have also closely coordinated in the development and promulgation of implementation guidelines, creating an unity to minimize difficulties and problems in implementation for the community. One of the outstanding coordination activities is the application of information technology to reform of medical examination and treatment procedures; payment of medical costs covered by health insurance. Currently, there are more than 12,000 health care facilities from the commune level upwards that have been connected and linked with the Health Insurance Assessment Portal. Compared to 2017 when the rate of data connection of medical examination and treatment in the day was only 38%, so far it has reached 89%. The payment of medical examination and treatment expenses covered by health insurance has been implemented by a software system, ensuring more accuracy and transparency. The two agerncies has also cooperated in building a national health database and electronic health records, etc.

General Director of Vietnam Social Security Nguyen The Manh giving a speech at the ceremony

Besides the achieved results, Manh also said that in the coming period, in addition to the advantages such as the attention of the Party, the State, the Government and the people, the health insurance policy in Vietnam will definitely encounter difficulties and challenges to maintain sustainable development. Currently, the health insurance coverage is nearly 90% of the population, which has reached the target set by the Government. Although the remaining 10% is not huge, the target group is difficult to develop, on the other hand, it is necessary to maintain the number of people enrolled in health insurance to achieve 95% of the population with health insurance by 2025 as the target set out in the Resolution. No. 20/2017/NQ-TW. Along with the maintenance and development of people participating in health insurance, another key task is the management and use of the health insurance fund in order to achieve the goal of balance, stability and ensuring the benefits of the participants, etc.

With the specific orientations and objectives of the two branches, the MoH and VSS approved and signed the Regulation on coordination in the development and implementation of policies and laws on health insurance.

Overview image of the ceremony

The Regulation consists of 3 chapters and 11 articles providing principles and contents for coordination in formulating and implementing policies and laws on health insurance between the two agencies. Accordingly, the coordination principle is based on the implementation and compliance with the Party's guidelines and policies, the laws of the State and in accordance with the functions, duties and powers of each party. To ensure the coordinated activities will be implemented in a timely, synchronous and consistent manner in the direction and administration of the leaders of the Ministry of Health and the direction of implementation of the leaders of Vietnam Social Security. The two sides shall regularly provide and exchange information on the development and implementation of policies and laws on health insurance and plans to deal with difficulties and problems arising in the implementation of policies and laws on health insurance.