ASSA’s 20 years of enthusiasm

Twenty years ago in Bangkok, representatives of social security organisations of five ASEAN member countries signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the ASSA with the aim of promoting cooperation in and the development of social security in the region, in accordance with the aspirations and laws of its member countries. At the most recent ASSA 35 meeting, the Vietnam Social Security (VSS), in its current role as chair of the ASSA for the term 2018-2019, reaffirmed its commitment to realising social security goals and connecting the ASEAN Community, considering this an overarching theme throughout the ASSA’s activities.

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Minh – who is also Director General of VSS and President of the ASSA for the 2018-2019 term – over the last 20 years, the ASSA has continued to grow, affirming its role and position in the global social welfare system. The VSS has been consistently active in sharing ideas and experiences, proving itself a reliable and responsible friend and partner of the regional and global social security communities. 

As the ASSA enters its 20th year full of energy and enthusiasm, this milestone will open the door for the future development and success of each member organisation – contributing to nurturing and promoting solidarity and strength amongst the ASEAN social security community for the benefit of the people, and for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, Minh said.

According to Suradej Waleeittikul – General Secretary of Thailand’s Social Security Office (SSO) and President of the ASSA for the 2017-2018 term – this year has affirmed the association’s foundation 20 years ago, aiming to improve the cooperation ability among social security agencies in the region. He added that many achievements have been made over the last couple decades.

He believed that the VSS will continue upholding its achievements in the time to come, thus fostering the association’s development and ensuring practical benefits related to social welfare for the people in its member nations. 

Talking to the Social Insurance Newspaper, General Director of the Lao National Social Security Fund Padeumphone Sonthany highly valued and expressed his gratitude for Vietnam’s organisation of ASSA 35, saying that the meetings and experience-sharing sessions were well chaired by officials from Vietnam’s social security agency.

ASEAN Community connectivity
To achieve the target of connecting the ASEAN Community, representatives from member organisations stressed the need to have accurate assessments on the real situation and grasp any opportunities to ensure no one is left behind. As part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is necessary for countries to ensure social welfare is functioning well.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of ASSA 35, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam reiterated the message of leaving no one behind during the development process – which many countries, including Vietnam, have put into their development policies. “We are all aware that the Fourth Industrial Revolution will change the world. Our task is to make it a positive change, with machines and technology being wielded as tools to serve humankind, and not a case of humans becoming dependent on machines,” Dam said.

According to the Deputy PM, in countries which are ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution like Malaysia and Singapore, and even Vietnam and Cambodia, it is still essential to carry out preferential policies for creativity and research in the sectors related to or based on IT platforms.
Mentioning the VSS’ health insurance information system which has been lauded by friends in the region, the Deputy PM stated that this is a good example of its efforts to take advantage of IT.

In fact, many ASEAN nations have taken advantage of opportunities brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution to implement social welfare. For example, in the health insurance sector, the Philippines succeeded in converting separate data into unified digital data. The Philippine Government has set a target of universalising healthcare across the nation, including an aspiration of optimising data by 2020 to better people-centred services and control fraudulent activities. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has gradually optimised the integration and processing of data to create a suitable data administration and management process.

Siripan Muangsin from the National Health Security Office (NHSO) of Thailand said that with a goal of ensuring “no one is left behind”, the Thai Government promulgated the Social Security Act in 2002. Accordingly, NHSO is tasked with managing data related to policy beneficiaries and the healthcare facility network, as well as collecting and analysing information on the implementation of health services.

“With a target of ensuring that no one is left behind, we have tried to create the most favourable conditions for people to participate in health insurance and benefit from it. The NHSO has designed new programmes and a people-centred health information system, including the use of an information system providing data via mobile phones,” Siripan Muangsin said.

Assessing the pervasive impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, VSS Director General Nguyen Thi Minh affirmed that “the ASEAN Social Welfare System is entering a new development period with numerous opportunities and challenges, requiring a creative line of approach and a long-term vision to promoting the strengths, experiences and technology of member organisations. Moreover, effective connectivity helps create synergy for the entire ASEAN, towards the cause for sustainable social welfare for all within the ASEAN Community.”
Throughout ASSA 35, it is easy to realise that all member organisations, though coming from different countries with different cultures and characteristics, have a shared target of connecting and finding unification in diversification. Many proposals and initiatives made by member organisations were discussed thoroughly to seek the best solutions to caring for community health, ensuring social welfare, and building a unified and strong ASEAN Community./.