The agency also paid for nearly 895,000 visits of people enjoying maternity policies; and over 683,000 people enjoying unemployment insurance policies at the same time.

Viet Nam Social Security’s Deputy General Director Le Hung Son chairs the conference

The data was revealed at a conference to provide periodic information on social, health and unemployment insurance in the third quarter of this year.

The conference was held under the chair of Viet Nam Social Security’s Deputy General Director Le Hung Son on October 26 in Ha Noi with the attendance of more than 100 journalists and reporters from local media.

Data from the conference also showed that, by the end of September 2022, the agency effectively implemented support packages from the social insurance fund and the unemployment insurance fund for employees and employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with a total cost of over VND47.2 trillion (US$1.89 billion), accounting for 54.3 per cent of the Government's total COVID-19 support packages.

Representatives of Viet Nam Social Security’s units give information to local media and press at the conference

Notably, the coverage of participants of social, health and unemployment insurance increased compared to the same period last year and compared to December 2021.

Social and health insurance debts tended to decrease, creating a premise for drastic implementation and contributing to the completion of plans and tasks set out this year.

As a result, by the end of September this year over 17.08 million people participated in social insurance, reaching 37.01 per cent of the labour force, an increase of about 537,000 people compared to the end of last year.

Reporters and journalists ask questions at the conference.

Nearly 87.4 million people participated in health insurance, accounting for 88.4 per cent of the population.

Over 14 million people participated in unemployment insurance, reaching 28.3 per cent of the labour force, an increase of 627,000 people compared to the end of last year.

As of October 17, 2022, there were 3,832,242 visits of health insurance participants using chip-based identity cards at medical facilities for examination and treatment.

Speaking at the conference, Son said local media and press has made active contributions in communication on social, health and unemployment to help the agency to reach the results. 

Viet Nam Social Security’s Deputy General Director Le Hung Son delivers his speech at the conference

The local media and press have performed their role as a bridge to bring the guidelines of the Party, policies and laws of the State on social and health insurance to people; raising public awareness and strengthening the trust of people of all strata in the country's social security system, Son said.

Statistics show that by the end of the third quarter of this year, there have been about 19,990 news articles reflecting the activities of the agency and dissemination on social, health and unemployment insurance policies published on mass media. It is equal to 68 news articles daily, he said.

A reporter experiences the chip-based identity card in medical examination and treatment covered by health insurance

The agency has also proposed solutions to create favourable conditions and ensure benefits for social and health insurance participants, including closely coordinating with relevant agencies in promulgating policies to support participants of social and health insurance from the local budget; strengthening coordination with the health ministry and medical facilities in removing difficulties in medical examination and treatment, providing drugs and medical supplies, and paying for medical expenses covered by health insurance.

The agency has already enhanced random inspections, focusing on inspections in electronic form and promptly requiring competent authorities to handle violations of the law on social, unemployment and health insurance.

It has also coordinated with the ministry of public security in promptly and strictly handling violations of the law on social and health insurance such as evading payment of social and health insurance or profiteering from the social and health insurance fund to ensure the funds are used effectively and for the right purposes in accordance with the provisions of law.

Delegates at the conference

It has bolstered the application of information and technology, connected and shared databases with relevant ministries and sectors such as the ministry of public security, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs; and the ministry of health to create favorable conditions for people and businesses when dealing with the agency.

Currently, while waiting for the ministry of health to issue regulations on basic medical information and regulations on electronic health books, the agency has actively developed a technical plan to share data following Decree No. 43/2021/ND-CP, regulating the National Insurance Database to build an electronic health book; as well as completed the technical connection to be ready to provide information on the VnEID application./. VSS