Discussing the Government's report on the results of the implementation of the Socio-Economic Development Plan and the State Budget in the first five months of 2022, Doan said solutions were necessary for disadvantaged social groups to access health insurance.

By the end of April 2022, the whole country saw more than 85.8 million people participating in health insurance, accounting for nearly 87 per cent of the population - a decrease of about 4.7 per cent compared to the end of 2021.

The main reason is due to a decrease in the number of people whose insurance premiums are paid or supported by the State budget, of which there are about 2.6 million ethnic minorities. Notably, due to financial difficulties, many households are hesitant to spend money to buy health insurance cards.

National Assembly deputy Lam Van Doan speaks at the National Assembly meeting. Source: Internet

“The main reason is partly from the approval of the list of communes in areas 3, 2 and 1 in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2025 period according to Decision No 861 of the Prime Minister and Decision No 861 of the Prime Minister and Decision No 433 of the Minister, Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs approving the list of disadvantaged villages in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the 2021-2025 period. Accordingly, there are about 1,946 communes, equivalent to about 4.9 million people, that are no longer eligible for support, because they are not in regions 2 and 3 as before,” said Doan.

Doan said that the promulgation of Decision No 861 of the Prime Minister and Decision No 433 of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs were the right policies, in line with the requirements of socio-economic development, and the basis for the formulation and promulgation of National Target Programmes, including the National Target Programme on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. However, this demarcation has had an indirect impact on the health insurance policy for people, especially ethnic minorities. Therefore, it is necessary to have a roadmap to ensure that people, especially disadvantaged social groups can adapt to the change, and no one is left behind.

He said that Vietnam just experienced the serious impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the State's support was also necessary and urgent to ensure social security for the people. After the pandemic, medical expenses and healthcare are supported by the health insurance fund. However, the decision-making authority rests with the National Assembly because it was related to the Law on Health Insurance. Therefore, the Government should pay attention to assessing the situation and soon submit to the National Assembly to add to the Resolution of this session on financial support to buy health insurance cards for ethnic minorities and people in difficulties.

Photo for Illustration. Source: Internet

In addition, it is necessary to promote and mobilise people to buy health insurance cards themselves, to classify population groups with better socio-economic conditions and those in difficulties and need the State's support to buy health insurance cards, in order to achieve the goal of universal health insurance and the target assigned by the National Assembly by the end of 2022, with 92 per cent of the population participating in health insurance.

Doan also said that the allocation of non-business capital from the central budget for National Target Programmes, including sustainable poverty reduction, was still not balanced or in line with capital needs and disbursement capacity.

For example, in the 2021-2025 period, the total non-business capital for the National Target Programmes is VND28 trillion, but in the two years of 2021-2022 and in fact, disbursement in 2022, only accounted for about 11.3 per cent. In the remaining three years, from 2023 to 2025, nearly 90 per cent of the total capital will need to be disbursed. This is not reasonable, the annual allocation of non-business capital without balance will affect the implementation of the objectives of the sustainable poverty reduction programme.

Photo for illustration. Source: Internet

In the allocation of non-business capital from the central budget in 2022 for the National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction, it has not yet been allocated for two projects on nutrition improvement and housing support for poor and near-poor households.

Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to allocating capital for the two projects in 2022, because these are urgent needs of social security for children, pregnant and nursing women, the poor and needy. Disbursement annually to suit age and target groups, especially projects to improve nutrition and ensure daily life for the poor. If the capital allocation is poured into the final years of the programme, disbursement is ensured but the project will fail to generate effective results.

“The line between the poor, the near-poor and the people just getting out of poverty is actually very thin. Even a small shock, including illness, unemployment, or job loss, can make people who have just escaped poverty return to the poor group or fall into dire and difficult circumstances. Therefore, the Government, the Prime Minister and the National Assembly annually pay attention to the arrangement and allocation of capital sources for cultural and social fields such as social security, social protection, poverty alleviation, culture, family, gender equality, and drug addiction treatment," Doan said./.