Towards universal health insurance coverage

After 15 years of implementing Directive No. 38 dated September 7, 2009 by the Secretariat on "Promoting health insurance in the new situation", the insured health care has much improved with access to quality healthcare services and effective medications. The health insurance policy helps protect the insured against financial risks associated with paying for health services.

Whole-of-Government approach 

Vietnam Social Insurance has just held an online conference summarizing 15 years of implementing Directive No. 38 dated September 7, 2009 by the Secretariat on "Promoting health insurance in the new situation". According to the report of the Provincial Social Insurance, by the end of 2023, 94.9% of the population of Khanh Hoa was covered by health insurance, exceeding 0.9% of the target assigned by the Prime Minister; the health insurance coverage within households reached 87%.

To gain the achievements, the whole-of-government approach has been promoted to promptly and fully implement Directive No. 38 by the Secretariat. The Provincial Party Committee has issued action programs, directives and resolutions to direct the implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies.

A provincial Social Insurance staff (left) propagates a household health insurance policy to a resident.

Based on the action program, directives of the Provincial Party Committee and Resolution of the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee has promulgated documents on the implementation of tasks on social insurance, unemployment insurance and health insurance in the province.

The achieved results showed that the effort of the Party Committees, authorities, departments and localities in promoting the coverage of social insurance in general and medical insurance in Khanh Hoa in particular.

Propaganda boost

According to Le Hung Chinh, Deputy Director of Management and Administration of the Provincial Social Insurance, besides satisfactory results, there are some limitations in health insurance. Some companies have failed to fully implement health insurance policies for employees; and inter-sectoral coordination and health insurance propaganda need to be boosted

To successfully complete the goals in Directive No. 38, the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, the Provincial Social Insurance has proposed many groups of solutions, especially in propaganda towards universal health insurance.

The Provincial Social Insurance will coordinate with departments and associations to promote and innovate propaganda to raise public awareness and responsibility in implementing health insurance policies, focusing on enhancing propaganda about the crucial role of health insurance in the pursuit of health and well-being; utilizing various forms of communications, including direct dialogues with employers, employees and local residents.

In addition, the authorities need to strengthen inspection and supervision over compliance with the law on health insurance to prevent fraudulent health insurance claims and ensure effective management and use of health insurance funds.

M.H

Translated by N.T