International organisations represented included: Mr. Olivier Brochet, French Ambassador to Vietnam; Mr. Ishikawa Isamu, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam; Mr. Chang Ho-Seung, Deputy Ambassador, Consul General of the Republic of Korea Embassy in Vietnam; Ms. Aler Grubbs, Country Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); a delegation from the US Embassy in Vietnam; Dr. Angela Pratt, Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam; and representatives from the US, French, South Korean, and Japanese embassies, the World Bank, and the WHO, among other organisations.

In his opening remarks, VSS Director General Nguyen The Manh stated that the conference was organised to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam Social

Security sector (1995-2025). The aim was to introduce and share with international partners and friends the achievements of VSS development and international integration over the past 30 years, as well as to present the sector future development orientation. It also aims to seek valuable advice and experience from international experts and organisations to further improve the institutional framework and enhance the capacity to implement Vietnam social security and health insurance policies.

Outstanding achievements

It is projected that by the end of 2024, the number of social insurance participants will reach

20.03 million (an increase of 18.03 million compared to 1995), equivalent to 42.71% of the

workforce, moving towards the target of 45% workforce participation by 2025. This includes

2.292 million voluntary social insurance participants, representing approximately 4.8% of the

working-age population, achieved through persistent and continuous advocacy and promotion by VSS.

The number of unemployment insurance participants will reach 16.03 million, equivalent to 34.18% of the workforce (an increase of 10.04 million compared to 2009), essentially achieving the target of 35% workforce participation by 2025. Health insurance has seen significant breakthroughs, rising from 7.1 million participants (9.6% of the population) in 1995 to 13.03 million (16.5% of the population) in 2002. It is now nearing the goal of universal health insurance coverage, with 93.62 million participants in 2023 (an increase of over 80 million compared to 2002). By the end of 2024, it is projected to reach 95.43 million (94.2% of thepopulation). Of this number, 48.171 million participants (approximately 47.5% of thepopulation) are attributed to continuous and persistent advocacy and promotion by VSS.

VSS ensures benefits and resolves benefit entitlements for participants in social insurance (SI), unemployment insurance (UI), and health insurance (HI) with the fastest and most convenient administrative procedures. Each year, VSS processes over 12 million benefit claims for SI recipients. The number of people using HI for medical examination and treatment in 2024 is estimated at approximately 185 million (double that of 2009).

VSS is vigorously promoting digital transformation and administrative reform, proactively

reviewing and minimising administrative procedures, simplifying and restructuring business

processes to maximise convenience for citizens and businesses. Currently, approximately

621,000 organisations and businesses conduct electronic transactions with VSS through public service portals. 100% of citizens with a level 2 digital identity account can access the agency online public services. 13,000 medical facilities are connected and interlinked with VSS for the payment of HI medical examination and treatment costs for over 170 million people annually.

Furthermore, leveraging its large, centralised, and regularly updated database, VSS is concentrating all necessary resources and conditions to resolutely implement strong digital transformation across all aspects of its operations, contributing to the best, fastest, and most convenient service for citizens and businesses. The resolute, synchronised, and comprehensive implementation of IT application solutions and digital transformation has brought about groundbreaking changes in the agency's operations, helping VSS maintain its ranking among the top five ministries and agencies leading in national digital transformation.