Attending the ceremony were: Mr. Olivier Brochet - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic in Vietnam; Mr. Thibaut Giroux - Chairman of the French Chamber of Commerce Promotion in Vietnam; Deputy General Director of Vietnam Social Insurance Nguyen Duc Hoa; representatives and leaders of a number of units under the two agencies...

Mr. Olivier Brochet - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Vietnam spoke at the ceremony

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Olivier Brochet - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Vietnam said that since 2018, the French Embassy and health departments and associations have had cooperative activities with VSS in the field of health and pharmaceuticals. In 2019, the French Pharmaceutical Trade Association (Leem) issued a cooperation document with VSS in the field of pharmaceuticals. Therefore, today's signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation is a continuation of past activities, showing the increasingly close relationship between the French Embassy and VSS.

“The signing is not a formal activity, but will open up prospects for stronger cooperation between the two agencies. With close coordination, I believe that the two agencies will achieve positive results, making an important contribution to the development of the healthcare and pharmaceutical systems of the two countries" - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic emphasized.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy General Director of VSS Nguyen Duc Hoa gave an overview of VSS and some outstanding results the industry achieved during 29 years of construction and development.

Accordingly, in 1995, the social insurance industry managed only 2.2 million workers, so far, the number of people participating in social insurance is 18.259 million people (reaching about 39.25% of the workforce), unemployment insurance is 14.693 million people (reaching about 39.25% of the workforce). 31.58% of the workforce) and health insurance is 93.307 million people, reaching a coverage rate of about 93.35% of the population. Social insurance, unemployment insurance, and health insurance funds have become one of the largest public financial funds in the country. This is a very important premise in implementing the roadmap for universal health insurance and moving towards social insurance for all workers according to the set goals.

Deputy General Director of VSS Nguyen Duc Hoa spoke at the ceremony

In particular, with a health insurance coverage rate of 93.35% of the population, the implementation of health insurance policy has completed the targets assigned by the Party and the National Assembly, exceeding the Prime Minister's target by 0.15%. assigned in Resolution 01/NQ-CP of the Government.

However, in the process of implementing major goals, VSS also encounters many difficulties and challenges in organizing the implementation of health insurance policies such as ensuring the rights of health insurance participants to have full access to health insurance. medicines, medical supplies, and technical services of high quality, efficiency, safety, and in accordance with the affordability of the health insurance fund; Implement effective management of health insurance funds in spending on drugs, medical supplies, medical technical services, innovate methods of payment for medical expenses between social insurance agencies and medical facilities, and solutions to prevent misuse of health insurance funds, etc. Therefore, VSS wishes to promote cooperative relationships with representatives of the French health sector in the field of health care, implementing the millennium development goals.

“With that spirit, today, we have the opportunity to witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between VSS and the representative of the French health sector, the French Chamber of Commerce Promotion in Vietnam. The Memorandum of Cooperation is the result of close understanding and strong trust between VSS and representatives of the French health sector; is not only a commitment to cooperation, but also an important turning point, marking the sharing of responsibilities and common efforts in providing high quality medical services to the people of both countries. The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Cooperation also has a particularly important meaning when the two countries have just celebrated the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations" - Deputy General Director Nguyen Duc Hoa said.

VSS and the French Chamber of Commerce Promotion in Vietnam held a signing ceremony of a strategic cooperation memorandum

At the ceremony, under the witness of delegates, Deputy General Director of VSS Nguyen Duc Hoa and Mr. Thibaut Giroux - Chairman of the French Chamber of Commerce Promotion in Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation between the two agencies.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the two sides commit to cooperate in many areas, including exchanging information and sharing experiences on solutions to increase revenue for the health insurance fund, experience in implementing additional health insurance packages; Improve capacity in medical technology assessment for application in building lists of drugs, medical supplies, and technical services covered by the health insurance fund, strengthen communication, and raise community awareness and medical staff on the safe, reasonable and effective use of drugs, ensuring the effective use of health insurance funds and patients' rights. This will help optimize resources, improve the quality of medical services and ensure that people in both countries benefit from modern medical advances. This Memorandum of Cooperation is not only a commitment to public health but also an important step contributing to the good relationship between Vietnam and France.

Mr. Thibaut Giroux - Chairman of the French Chamber of Commerce Promotion in Vietnam spoke at the ceremony

Mr. Thibaut Giroux - Chairman of the French Chamber of Commerce Promotion in Vietnam expressed his sincere thanks to the efforts and will of everyone who contributed to the discussion process and reached the agreement and Memorandum of Cooperation. Mr. Thibaut Giroux hopes that through the close cooperation of the two agencies, it will bring significant improvements in the health sector and will serve as a foundation for deeper cooperative relationships between the two countries. At the same time, he wishes that the cooperation between VSS and French health sector partners to become increasingly prosperous and useful.​