Chairwoman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs Truong Thi Mai has said Vietnam always deems health insurance as a pillar in its social welfare policies, which will help make up a fair, effective and advanced healthcare system.

At a forum on universal health insurance held by the committee and the World Health Organisation in Hanoi on March 4, she said about 70 percentof the Vietnamese population were covered by health insurance as of the end of 2013.

However, a number of flaws have been found in the implementation of insurance policies, particularly in remote areas, she added.

At the function, Japanese parliamentarian Keizo Takemi, Chairman of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, talked about a policy packet to develop a healthy middle class in his country in the 1960s.

To that end, they doubled per capita income by promoting exports, improving housing and waste treatment, along with increasing social welfare.

He noted that countries facing an aging population in the near future, like Vietnam, can secure a healthy aging society by preparing their policies accordingly.

Many participants said Vietnam is facing major challenges relating to insurance quality, premium levels, and accessibility to the service.

Opinions voiced at the forum will be submitted to a drafting board to amend the Law on Health Insurance.-VNA