Breakthroughs

A report by VSS shows that by the end of July, the key indicators for the expansion of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance coverage have all increased compared to the same period in 2023. Specifically, the number of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance participants reached nearly 18.518 million, up 7.87 per cent against the same period in 2023.

Of note, the social security industry has flexibly implemented many solutions to increase the number of health insurance participants has achieved positive results with approximately 92.511 million (an increase of 1.36 per cent compared to the same period in 2023). The total collection of social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance contribution is estimated at VND282.8 trillion, a rise of nearly VND24.7 trillion over the same period last year.

As a result, the Vietnam social security industry has settled monthly social insurance benefit some for 109,155 participants; lump-sum insurance benefit for 115,333; and sickness, maternity, and health recovery for 560,840. Nationwide, there are more than 14.7 million people seeking health insurance-based medical treatment.

VSS Director General Nguyen The Manh presides over the meeting

The entire industry continues to actively coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors in developing, revising and amending laws, especially contents related to the Law on Social Insurance  (Law No 41/2024/QH15) which were issued following approval by National Assembly deputies at the 15th National Assembly’s 7th seating, to concretise and implement it with the aim of ensuring the rights of workers and promoting the sustainable development of the social security system, meeting the increasingly high demands in the current socio-economic context.

At the conference, leaders of specialised units reported in detail on the implementation of certain fields in the first seven months of 2024; forecasted the situation, plan and solutions for 2024, through which the industry leaders provided guidance and proposed measures to implement tasks in the coming period.

According to the Head of the Department of Contribution Collection – Insurance Book and Health Insurance Card Duong Van Hao, compared to the previous month and the same period of 2023, the number of people participating in social insurance and health insurance system nationwide has seen significant and positive changes. Specifically, in July, the number of people participating in mandatory social insurance reached 20,000; the number of voluntary social insurance participants was 30,000; and that of health insurance participants reach 50,000, with a total nationwide collection of 39,000 people, achieving 56 per cent of the social insurance plan assigned.

Regarding key solutions and tasks that need to be implemented in the coming time, Head of the Department of Contribution Collection – Insurance Book and Health Insurance Card Duong Van Hao said the department the social security offices in cities and provinces to rigorously implement the directives of VSS, accelerate communications, strengthen inspections, develop digital software to clarify revenue data; organise conferences to share experiences of models for localities to follow; and continue providing professional training for premium collection staff, among others to sustainably develop the number of social insurance and health insurance participants.

Regarding health insurance, Director of the Department of Health Insurance Implementation Le Van Phuc reported that the department has actively and effectively coordinated with the health sector in amending the Law on Health Insurance. The department has also regularly organised online meetings with localities regarding budget allocation and establishing criteria to provide warnings in controlling health insurance costs, prioritising the rights of citizens accessing health insurance services.

Regarding the settlement of social insurance and unemployment insurance benefits, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Insurance Implementation Dinh Thi Thu Hien said, the department has actively contributed opinions to drafting the revised Law on Social Insurance and implementing wage reform policies. In the field of social insurance, the department has provided instructions and guidance for local social insurance offices to focus on implementation, including the application of information technology to control and detect signs of abusing the social insurance fund.

Regarding communication, Director of the Information and Communication Center Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong said the center has closely followed the directives of VSS, focusing on communicating the 7th session of the 15th National Assembly; rights and benefits of social insurance and health insurance participants; the payment of pensions and social insurance benefits for the citizens according to new regulations; and the harms of receiving one-time social insurance withdrawal. Regarding tasks in the coming time, the Director of the Information and Communication Center said the center will continue to actively co-ordinate with relevant units to disseminate new points of the Law on Social Insurance and the health insurance policies for students during the coming new school year.

Synchronous solutions for remaining months

Concluding the conference, VSS Director General Nguyen The Manh highly appreciated the results achieved by the entire industry in the first seven months of the year. He stated that the main targets all increased compared to the same period of 2023, which showed a bright outlook for the overall picture of the entire social security industry. However, the entire industry must not be negligent or subjective as challenges and difficulties for 2024 are not few.

He requested that the whole industry continue to closely follow the guidelines, directions and directives of the Party, National Assembly, Government regarding social insurance and health insurance; and co-ordinate with ministries and sectors in building and perfecting the laws related to the tasks of the industry in the coming time.Top of Form

A general view of the conference

Regarding tasks in the coming time, the VSS Director General requested that all units continue to closely follow the directives of the Government and the industry to seriously implement these tasks. Additionally, units should closely work with ministries and sectors to remove difficulties in works, thereby proposing scenarios and plans for synchronous and effective implementation.

Furthermore, it is necessary to enhance the content, forms and methods of communication so the public can have the best access to all information about social insurance and health insurance, especially about the Law on Social Insurance recently passed by the National Assembly.

He called for the maximisation of the industry’s information technology and database to inspect, prevent fraud, and take advantage of funds; synchronously implement measures to manage funds safely, sustainably and effectively. He also asked the units to continue reviewing and simplifying administrative procedures; expand the forms of providing level 4 online public services; accelerate digitalisation to complete the connection of social insurance and health insurance database to the National Database on Insurance.

The Director General directed VSS specialised units to continue closely coordinating with units under ministries and sectors in the process of researching and amending the Law on Health Insurance and Law on Employment.