Surge in HCM City’s insured AIDS patients
The proportion of people with HIV/AIDS in HCM City who have health insurance surged to 70 percent last February from 20 percent in April last year, according to the city HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre.
A caregiver attends to children with HIV at the Linh Xuan Child Sponsor Centre in HCM City (Photo VNA)HCM
City (VNA) - The proportion of people with HIV/AIDS in HCM City who
have health insurance surged to 70 percent last February from 20 percent in
April last year, according to the city HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre.
The Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control reported that aid under the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, for free anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs and treatment would be cut by 40 percent this year end and end next year.
For the 2016-20 period the Government has allocated only 100 billion VND (4.4 million USD) for buying ARV drugs for health facilities, Dr Vu Duc Long of the administration, said.
This means HIV/AIDS patients have to pay for medicines and treatment, he told a workshop held on March 30 to review HIV/AIDS treatment in the city last year paid for by health insurance.
But many of the patients have financial difficulties, he said.
Dr Duong Minh Hai of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre said since last May the centre and other relevant organisations have counselled 27,685 out of 29,402 patients getting treatment.
This has helped them understand the benefits of health insurance, he said.
As a consequence 70 percent of the patients have bought health insurance, he added.
Of the remaining, 408 cannot afford it, 751 lack identification cards and other documents such as temporary or permanent residential book.
Dr Nguyen Huu Hung, deputy head of the city Department of Health, said the department has recommended that the People’s Committee should approve the purchase of health insurance for poor HIV/AIDS patents using the abundance of money in the health insurance fund.
Nguyen Anh Phong of the Vietnam Network of People Living with HIV said members want to collaborate with the centre to help people with HIV/AIDS lacking relevant documents buy insurance.
They hope to help them acquire the documents, he explained.
Bui Duc Duong, deputy head of the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control, said however that patients without insurance are “not left behind” because the managers and staff of health facilities usually mobilise donations to fund their treatment.
Thu Duc District Hospital, for instance, has funded the purchase of health insurance for 40 patients who cannot afford it.
Tieu Thi Thu Van, head of the city HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre, said patients are now treated at four city-level hospitals, many preventive health centres and 16 district general hospitals.
Around 3,000 are treated at ward and commune health centres, she said.
The Department of Health plans to allow private general clinics to treat patients with ARV drugs, she added.
As of January 31 last year 116,000 patients were getting ARV therapy at 393 health facilities and 32 prisons, according to the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control.-VNA
The Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control reported that aid under the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, for free anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs and treatment would be cut by 40 percent this year end and end next year.
For the 2016-20 period the Government has allocated only 100 billion VND (4.4 million USD) for buying ARV drugs for health facilities, Dr Vu Duc Long of the administration, said.
This means HIV/AIDS patients have to pay for medicines and treatment, he told a workshop held on March 30 to review HIV/AIDS treatment in the city last year paid for by health insurance.
But many of the patients have financial difficulties, he said.
Dr Duong Minh Hai of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre said since last May the centre and other relevant organisations have counselled 27,685 out of 29,402 patients getting treatment.
This has helped them understand the benefits of health insurance, he said.
As a consequence 70 percent of the patients have bought health insurance, he added.
Of the remaining, 408 cannot afford it, 751 lack identification cards and other documents such as temporary or permanent residential book.
Dr Nguyen Huu Hung, deputy head of the city Department of Health, said the department has recommended that the People’s Committee should approve the purchase of health insurance for poor HIV/AIDS patents using the abundance of money in the health insurance fund.
Nguyen Anh Phong of the Vietnam Network of People Living with HIV said members want to collaborate with the centre to help people with HIV/AIDS lacking relevant documents buy insurance.
They hope to help them acquire the documents, he explained.
Bui Duc Duong, deputy head of the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control, said however that patients without insurance are “not left behind” because the managers and staff of health facilities usually mobilise donations to fund their treatment.
Thu Duc District Hospital, for instance, has funded the purchase of health insurance for 40 patients who cannot afford it.
Tieu Thi Thu Van, head of the city HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre, said patients are now treated at four city-level hospitals, many preventive health centres and 16 district general hospitals.
Around 3,000 are treated at ward and commune health centres, she said.
The Department of Health plans to allow private general clinics to treat patients with ARV drugs, she added.
As of January 31 last year 116,000 patients were getting ARV therapy at 393 health facilities and 32 prisons, according to the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control.-VNA
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