The goal of universal health coverage is to ensure that all people obtain the health services they need...
The goal of universal health coverage is to ensure that all people obtain the health services they need without suffering financial hardship, according to the World Health Organization.
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| Gastrointestinal endoscopy at Khanh Hoa General Hospital. |
Universal health coverage implies that all people have access, without discrimination, to preventive, curative and rehabilitative basic health services; and affordable, effective and quality medicines, while ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the users to financial hardship; and necessary services with protection against financial risk; with a special emphasis on the poor and vulnerable people.
Therefore, to achieve universal health coverage, several factors must be satisfied, including a strong, efficient, well-run health system; a system for financing health services; essential medicines and technologies to diagnose and treat medical problems; sufficient well-trained, motivated health workers to provide the services to meet patients’ needs, and health insurance coverage improvement.
Dr. Bui Xuan Minh, Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Health over the past years, thanks to the State budget, loans provided by the Asian Development Bank, Atlantic-philanthropies project, the Global Fund Project and so on, most of hospitals, clinics, and medical centers in Khanh Hoa Province have been upgraded and re-constructed. They include Cam Ranh general Hospital, Van Ninh District Hospital, Dien Khanh District Hospital, Cam Lam District Hospital, Khanh Vinh District Hospital, etc.
Besides infrastructure investment, new medical machines for emergency services, diagnostic imaging, diagnostic endoscope vision system, etc have been equipped. Under the 1816 and Satellite Hospital Projects, thousands of medical staff have been provided management and professional development training. Therefore, health care quality has much improved in Khanh Hoa.
This year’s Vietnam Health Coverage Day is themed “Joining hands to assure universal health coverage.” More education and communication campaigns are required to raise public awareness of the benefits of health coverage for everyone in an effort to reach the target of nationwide health coverage.
The health insurance coverage rate is presently 65% in Khanh Hoa with the population of over 1.2 million. Under the health insurance coverage plan, period 2015 – 2020, Khanh Hoa has the target of 75% of the population covered by health insurance in 2015, according to Khanh Hoa Department of Health.
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