The one-year-old Health Insurance Law has brought about a surge of 31.3 percent in the rate of coverage in 2009 as compared to the 2008 figure, reported the Vietnam Social Insurance.
One year after the law came into force on July 1, 2009, the number of health insurance card holders reached 49.5 million last year, making up 56.6 percent of the national population.
The figures were made public at a press briefing held by the Ministry of Health in Hanoi on June 28, where Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Xuyen emphasised the law has marked a milestone step forward in finalising a legal system on health insurance.
The Director of the Health Insurance Department under the Health Ministry, Tong Thi Song Huong, admitted some problems along with achievements recorded in implementing the law.
“Slow progress has been made in expanding the target groups due to negligence by a number of employers, meanwhile punishment tools against violators are not strong enough to force employers to abide by the law,” Huong explained.
She added that coordination between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs remained loose, resulting in prolonged procedures in issuing insurance cards, especially to the poor and children under six.
The Health Ministry has asked insurance agencies to speed up the process of issuing or changing health insurance cards, ensure the benefits of insurance card holders, improve the quality of medical check-up and treatment and effectively use the health insurance fund.
Vietnam marks the Health Insurance Day on every July 1, which this year focuses on the sense of responsibility and performance of relevant agencies in implementing health insurance policies./.
One year after the law came into force on July 1, 2009, the number of health insurance card holders reached 49.5 million last year, making up 56.6 percent of the national population.
The figures were made public at a press briefing held by the Ministry of Health in Hanoi on June 28, where Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Xuyen emphasised the law has marked a milestone step forward in finalising a legal system on health insurance.
The Director of the Health Insurance Department under the Health Ministry, Tong Thi Song Huong, admitted some problems along with achievements recorded in implementing the law.
“Slow progress has been made in expanding the target groups due to negligence by a number of employers, meanwhile punishment tools against violators are not strong enough to force employers to abide by the law,” Huong explained.
She added that coordination between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs remained loose, resulting in prolonged procedures in issuing insurance cards, especially to the poor and children under six.
The Health Ministry has asked insurance agencies to speed up the process of issuing or changing health insurance cards, ensure the benefits of insurance card holders, improve the quality of medical check-up and treatment and effectively use the health insurance fund.
Vietnam marks the Health Insurance Day on every July 1, which this year focuses on the sense of responsibility and performance of relevant agencies in implementing health insurance policies./.
