One of the notable achievements is the agency’s development of a comprehensive and largely complete database that covers a majority of citizens and businesses.

During an online conference held on July 31, Viet Nam Social Security (VSS) Director General Nguyen The Manh, who also heads the VSS Digital Transformation Steering Committee, provided an assessment of the agency's digital transformation efforts and the progress made in implementing Project 06.

 Viet Nam Social Security Director General Nguyen The Manh chairs an online conference on the agency's digital transformation and the implementation of Project 06 on July 31

According to Manh, the synchronisation and verification of the database with the National Database on Population was a crucial step towards administrative procedure reform.

The agency's administrative procedure reform had been robustly implemented, becoming increasingly convenient and efficient.

Examples include the use of ID Cards for health insurance consultations and pension payments through personal accounts.

Data sharing between VSS and ministries, sectors and localities was now timelier and more transparent, creating a shared database that offered growing benefits to citizens and businesses.

All of the agency’s operational and management processes were carried out digitally, enhancing productivity and transparency.

He also expressed gratitude for the cooperation and support from the ministries, sectors and localities in carrying out the tasks.

In the first half of this year, VSS processed over 6.8 million electronic transaction files, equivalent to 49.9 million records tied to individual workers, making up 88 per cent of the total number of files received and processed both directly and online.

In the implementation of the project, VSS connected and shared data between the National Insurance Database and the National Population Database, adopted technologies to utilise chip-based ID cards and the electronic identification application (VNeID) instead of paper health insurance cards for medical consultations.

Currently, all health facilities have successfully implemented health insurance consultations using chip-based ID cards, with over 104.2 million verifications of health insurance cards for medical consultations.

VSS had also been actively promoting cashless insurance payments.

In the first half of this year, approximately 74 per cent of beneficiaries in urban areas received their insurance payments through personal accounts, which is a 10 per cent increase compared to last year.

Additionally, VSS has collaborated with ministries, sectors and localities to implement various initiatives. These include the deployment of electronic health records, data linkage for driver’s health checks, birth certificates and death certificates, integration of social insurance information on the VNeID app; and integration of VneID with the digital social insurance application - VssID; and the development of the National Data Centre on Social Insurance.

Participants at the online conference

The achievements were recognised and highly praised by the Government, the Prime Minister, the ministries, citizens and businesses.

Ngo Hai Phan, director of the Administrative Procedure Control Department at the Government Office of Viet Nam, said Viet Nam Social Security was not only a pioneer in digital transformation but also having tangible products that benefit citizens and businesses.

“The results of digital transformation and the implementation of Project 06 of the Viet Nam Social Security in the first half of this year are highly positive,” he said.

Notably, the high rate of pension and social insurance payments through personal accounts stood out.

VSS provided numerous benefits on the National Public Service Portal, which had seen significant use by citizens and businesses.

Despite challenges, VSS effectively developed digital infrastructure and data and actively shared resources with ministries and localities, yielding practical benefits for the public.

Vu Van Tan, deputy director of the Police Department for Administrative Management on Social Order under the Ministry of Public Security, said that the results achieved by Viet Nam Social Security in implementing the project were very positive.

The full implementation of health consultations using chip-based ID cards and Level-2 digital identification accounts represented a major effort by the agency and local police to share and synchronise data.

“The shift to personal account-based social insurance payments is an impressive achievement, overcoming initial difficulties,” he said.

Challenges and solutions

 Viet Nam Social Security Director General Nguyen The Manh delivers his speech at the online conference on July 31

Despite the agency’s achievements, Manh also emphasised various challenges and limitations in the digital transformation and implementation of Project 06.

These challenges and limitations encompassed a lack of awareness among heads regarding their responsibilities, incomplete understanding of digital transformation among staff, inadequate attention to information security by certain units, persistent gaps in awareness and complacency towards safeguarding information, a shortage of IT personnel, inadequate incentives for digital transformation and IT staff, and a lack of banking infrastructure in rural and remote areas.

Therefore, he urged that in the future, affiliated units and social security offices across provinces and cities continue to adhere closely to Government and Prime Minister’s directives and approved plans for digital transformation and the project.

They must be committed to achieving all of their assigned tasks by December 31, 2024.

Units should further enhance leadership responsibilities in the efforts, ensuring clarity in roles, tasks, responsibilities, result and timelines.

They had to continue to raise awareness among workers about digital transformation and the project, viewing them as integral to their core duties.

Additionally, they were told to build and enrich the agency's database while being prepared to share, synchronise and integrate with ministries, sectors and localities.

That would help further streamline administrative procedures, enhance management efficiency and improve digital operational processes.

Efforts should also be made to promote digital transformation through communication, showcasing the achievements of VSS to society and gaining consensus from citizens, businesses and all levels of Government in carrying out the tasks.

Also at the conference, VSS Department of Emulation and Commendation announced the Director General's decision to award 13 individuals outside the agency and 19 collectives and 39 individuals within the agency for their outstanding contributions to the implementation of the project during the 2022-23 period.