Parallel development

In 2017, Hanoi fulfilled 20 socio-economic targets, with six ones exceeding the plan. For example, budget collection was 1.4 percent higher than the estimate and the number of communes recognised as new-style rural building programme surpassed the goal. Investment attraction also saw high growth and tourism continued to thrive.

In particular, the city paid great heed to the effective implementation of health and social insurance policies.

Implementing Resolution 21-NQ-TW of the Politburo on strengthening the Communist Party of Vietnam’s leadership of social and health insurance work in 2012-2020, Party committees and administrations at all levels have provided close guidance in order to raise awareness about insurance. Thus, most Hanoi citizens realised the importance of social and health insurance and joined insurance.

To date, more than 6.3 million people in Hanoi (84 percent of the city’s population) have joined health insurance; as many as 71,010 units and enterprises participated in social and health insurance. The first quarter of 2018 saw nearly 3,470 firms with about 8,830 labourers joining in insurance.

As the agency in charge of insurance work, Hanoi Social Insurance (HSI) has strengthened discipline, reformed administrative procedures and applied information technology in management, thus increasing people’s satisfaction.

At present, all administrative procedures relating to social and health insurance are handled through e-transactions or the postal system. The enumeration and collection of premiums are conducted through the online public service at level 4. The agency also promptly and safely pays about 2.44 trillion VND (about 107 million USD) in insurance benefits each month.

Continued sustainable development

According to Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai, 2018 holds significant meaning as it marks 10 years since the adjustment of the city’s administrative boundary (2008-2018). It is also the year of mid-term assessment on the implementation of the Resolution of the Hanoi Party Committee’s 16th Congress on building a model urban administration, smart city and ensuring social security.

For those reasons, Hanoi has decided on the theme of 2018 as “raising capacity and efficiency of the city’s political system”, aiming to have at least 55 percent of people in working age joining social insurance, 45 percent or more of the workforce joining unemployment insurance and more than 90.1 percent of the population participating in health insurance.

The city also sets the targets of having more than 70 percent of firms joining social insurance and all school children and students covered by health insurance from the 2017-2018 school year, while reducing social insurance debts to less than 4 percent of total due premiums.

To realise those targets, Hanoi’s political system has actively joined in the process. In the first four months of 2018, Hanoi social insurance and relevant agencies have worked to increase the number of people taking part in social and health insurance, toward the goals of expanding health insurance coverage to 85.3 percent of the population and 80 percent firms joining social insurance this year.

The city has also proposed full subsidy of health insurance premiums for agro-forestry-fishery households with average living standards. It will work to reduce the rate of poor households to less than 1 percent by 2020, creating a momentum to raise poverty standard in 2021-2026, facilitating poverty alleviation and building better living environment.

Secretary Hoang Trung Hai also revealed that in 2018, Hanoi will focus on three breakthroughs: synchronically developing and modernising infrastructure, further pushing administrative reform and improving investment climate, along with boosting quality of human resource, maintaining the image of polite and elegant Hanoians.

Besides, the city will implement solutions to maintain macro-economic stability, fulfil targets on economic growth and social welfare, helping the city worthy of the title “city of peace”.