However, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the implementation of capitation payment method has been suspended. In case of the DRG payment method for inpatient medical expenses, the World Bank (WB) has provided support for Viet Nam to implement in 8 steps. In which, a number of steps are relatively ready, such as completing the database of medical examination and treatment covered by health insurance, developing and adjusting the DRG grouping software on the basis of logic algorithm application from Thailand... However, there is still a long way ahead of Viet Nam to complete and apply DRG in practice.

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On April 19, Viet Nam Social Security (VSS) in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) held a workshop on "Sharing international experience on health insurance payment and the analysis results of the bypass policy impacts on health insurance”, with the participation of international experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and WB. This is a valuable opportunity for VSS and representatives of ministries and departments to learn from the experiences of other countries on the contract mechanism in the DRG payment system in order to design policies, developing a monitoring and assessment system for payments made by DRG method and a system for referral and initial health care facilities registration as well as how to determine the total payment fund using DRG…

Illustrative image (internet)

According to the assessment, the implementation of fee for service - stipulated in Decree No. 146/2018/ND-CP of the Government has shown weaknesses, requiring changes to ensure consensus among stakeholders in the implementation of the health insurance policy, and benefits of health insurance participants, harmonizing the interests of medical service providers for the patients with health insurance and effective use of health insurance fund. In particular, the period of COVID-19 epidemic poses for the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and VSS the need to consider reforming payment methods, in order to ensure the sustainable development of the Health sector, including the strengthening of development of primary health care and efficient use of resources. Viet Nam's goal is to ensure that the health insurance policy fulfills its role as a basic public finance mechanism in health care activities, which is the key to achieving universal health care coverage according to the following principles: equitable access, rational use of resources, financial protection for patients, and improvement of the quality of health services.

Through this workshop, VSS looks forward to cooperate with the Ministry of Health in pilotting the implementation of DRG method, solving recent problems by allocating more financial resources from health insurance; improving the efficiency of health insurance funds’ usage; maintaining and developing sustainable universal coverage of health insurance; dealing with aging population…

The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on realising health insurance policies with the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), the VSS announced on March 10.
The two sides have shared experience in implementing health insurance policies and consulting experts in procurement and safe use of medicines during health checkups and treatment covered by insurance since 2019.
The signing of the MoU aims to specify the scope of cooperation in health insurance, facilitating frequent exchanges between the VSS and US partners towards the sustainable development of the health insurance system in Vietnam. 

USABC President and CEO Ted Osius said the US business community highly valued efforts and achievements by the Vietnamese Government, people and firms in fighting COVID-19 and protecting people’s health, and at the same time resuming production activities to catch up with the global economic recovery.

The MoU will be valid for five years from the date of signing. Under the agreement, the sides will bolster cooperation in health insurance, particularly in the development of sustainable universal health insurance coverage; assessing the quality of medical equipment and services covered by health insurance; and health insurance payment verification.

They also seek potential fields of cooperation such as digital application, social welfare consultation, and investment fund.

At the event, the sides shared experience in payment models for treatment of cancer and acute non-communicable diseases and solutions for Vietnamese patients to access modern medical treatment, among others.