Prime Minister urges efforts to expand health insurance coverage

The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to promptly make a list of underprivileged coastal and island communes which are subjects to free health insurance.
Prime Minister urges efforts to expand health insurance coverage ảnh 1Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to promptly make a list of underprivileged coastal and island communes which are subjects to free health insurance during 2016-2020.

The list must be submitted to the PM for approval before June 30, he said, asking the Ministry of Finance to partner with the Ministry of Health to build a mechanism and a roadmap for health insurance coverage sourced from the State coffer.

The Vietnam Social Insurance (VSI) was tasked with drawing up suitable mechanisms, policies and solutions to speed up the expansion of health insurance.

It was also requested to launch a network of distributors in charge of collecting health insurance premiums paid by organisations and units, and streamline administrative procedures to make it easier for people to take out insurance.

The Government leader called for efforts to accelerate communication work to encourage the widespread participation of health insurance under the form of households.

At the same time, the People’s Committees of centrally-run cities and provinces should allocate their State budgets and mobilise all resources to support people in joining health insurance.

The Health Ministry was urged to swiftly roll out a plan adjusting prices of health care services in order to ensure equality between health insurance card holders and others.

Regarding the computerisation of health check-ups and treatment and payment, the PM asked the ministry to build, issue and update a set of codes for medical services jointly used by modern and traditional medicine, technical services and medical materials.

Medical centres must update all information about health check-ups and treatment for those covered by health insurance on the national e-network no later than June 30, he said.-VNA

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