That is the quick and receptive response of the management agency after receiving feedback from Lao Dong Newspaper.
However, what is more worrying is why a social security allowance - which is to ensure the lives of patients - takes nearly 5 years to reach the beneficiaries.
Suffering from a brain stroke since 2021, Ms. Ngat completely lost her cognitive ability and could not sign a power of attorney. To receive the subsidy in her place, the family must carry out procedures to request the Court to declare her incapacitated to perform civil acts and establish a guardian.
Legally, this requirement is not wrong. But the inadequacy lies in the fact that current law almost applies the same procedure for asset management and receiving monthly allowances to care for patients themselves.
Social insurance agencies have legal basis when requesting legal representatives. However, the law still lacks a simplified mechanism for people with stroke, coma or complete loss of cognitive ability.
In such cases, the most important goal is not to establish a civil transaction, but to help patients promptly access money for treatment and maintain life.
Therefore, a simpler mechanism can be studied: Just need a confirmation from a medical facility about the state of cognitive impairment, documents proving family relationships and family unity. The Social Insurance Agency can still post-inspect and strictly handle if acts of abuse and appropriation are detected.
Such a mechanism both ensures risk control and avoids patients having to wait many years to use their own money.
The case also raises the requirement to change the service style of the enforcement agency.
For nearly 5 years, Mrs. Ngat's family went through many agencies, including the Court, the Procuracy..., completing many types of papers but still could not find a way out.
If each agency does its part correctly but people still suffer losses, then it is time to review the coordination process and service thinking. A modern administration must not only stop at complying with regulations, but also proactively find solutions to protect the legitimate rights of people, especially the elderly and sick.
The fact that more than 177 million VND was handed over to Mrs. Ngat's family just after Lao Dong Newspaper reported it is a noteworthy sign.
But a social security policy should not operate in a way that people are only relieved when the incident becomes an event. What is more needed is a sufficiently clear and flexible mechanism so that all similar cases can be resolved promptly from the beginning, so that no one has to wait many years to receive the allowance created to ensure their lives.
