Health insurance card holders at the hospital (Photo:VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Social Insurance Agency (VSIA) has to take full responsibility for expanding health insurance coverage, which is targeted to at least 90 percent of the country’s population by 2020.
It was stated in the Prime Minister’s decision on health insurance goals allocated for provinces and centrally-run cities in 2016-2020.
The agency is required to coordinate with ministries and agencies to propose plans pertaining to health insurance coverage expansion to the Government.
It is asked to diversify communication campaigns, highlighting the significance of health insurance schemes, along with implementing administrative shakeup to make it easier for health insurance participants.
Vietnam has set to have at least 90 percent of its population covered with health insurance by 2020 with some localities assigned to increase their health insurance holders to nearly 100 percent, including Lao Cai (98.8 percent), Thai Nguyen and Dien Bien (98.5 percent) and Ha Giang (98.2 percent).
In addition to mapping out plan and measures to realise the set target, relevant branches and agencies are requested to keep updated on the number of labourers working in local enterprises and their wages.
Inspection of health insurance premium in enterprises should be given priority. Strict punishments will be handed out to any firms reneging on paying insurance for its workers.
Provincial budgets and other financial resources should be mobilised to support local people to get access to health insurance services, especially near-poor households, middle-income families, and students.
The Prime Minister also assigned the Ministry of Health (MoH) to improve medical check-up quality and fine-tune payment process for health insurance card holders.
The Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs are ordered to build plans ensuring all pupils and students are covered by health insurance by 2017.
Meanwhile, insurance coverage among the armed force members should be increased to 100 percent by 2018.
As of May 31, 2016, health insurance coverage in the country reached 77 percent with nearly 80 million cardholders, fulfilling 98.3 percent of the Government’s set plan.-VNA
