The package, including prevention, consultation and treatment services
for all citizens, is fully covered by Vietnam Social Security (VSS).
A local receives a health check-up in Tan Huong commune of Thai Nguyen province. Photo: Vietnam+
According to the agency’s data, only 19 percent of health insurance
card holders register commune-level medical facilities as their initial
places for examination and treatment, while only three percent of the
social insurance fund pays for medical services at those centers.
The shortage of services and skilled medical staff is the main
reason for this phenomenon. Therefore, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and
the Vietnam Social Security collaborated to develop this basic medical
services package as a solution.
Thereby, people can access 76 basic services and 241 types of medicines at commune-level medical facilities.
Through the package, diabetic patients, instead of going to hospitals, can receive medicines at local medical centers.
Doan Van Bon, a diabetic patient in northern Hai Duong province, is
interested in this initiative. “Since the district hospital is seven kilometers away from my house, I miss appointments sometimes. Therefore,
it is more convenient for me that near-by medical center start
distributing necessary medicines,” he said.
Schools also stand to benefit from the policy. As kindergartens and
primary schools are commonly located next to medical facilities,
students can access better medical services.
According to Le Van Kham, head of the Social Insurance Department
under MoH, that the basic medical services package also helps people
save money and motivates local medical facilities to enhance their
capabilities.
With all expenses paid by the State budget and local budget, the
initiative aims to satisfy 70 percent of people’s healthcare demands at
local medical facilities. At present, the related agencies are planning
to review the quality of medical services.
Moreover, Bang recommended proposing further policies to support
subordinate medical facilities such as doctor rotation or satellite
hospitals.
Vietnamese people have to pay 40 percent for medical expenses
while, according to the World Health Organization, a medical system
becomes unequal when it requires people to pay more than half of medical
expenses. The reasonable rate recommended is 30 percent. Vietnam plans
to reduce it to 35 percent by 2020.
Source: VNA