Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan has just issued a document responding to the petition of voters in Vinh Long province regarding inadequacies in health insurance (HI) policies, especially the scope of payment for drugs and referral to medical examination and treatment.
According to the Minister, the policy of opening health insurance examination and treatment facilities has been implemented since 2016. To date, health insurance participants nationwide have been connected nationwide at the district and provincial levels. In particular, the Ministry of Health has issued a list of 62 serious diseases and rare diseases, allowing patients to be transferred directly to central hospitals without a referral letter.
In addition, ethnic minorities and people living in island communes and island districts also have the right to receive direct inpatient medical examination and treatment at central hospitals, contributing to improving access to quality healthcare services.
Currently, the Health Insurance Fund pays for more than 9,000 technical services, meeting most of the basic treatment needs of the people. The benefit level of health insurance participants ranges from 80%, 95% or 100% depending on the group of subjects, ensuring fairness and suitability for the Fund's payment capacity as well as that of patients.
Regarding drugs, Vietnam is considered one of the few countries with a drug scope paid by the Health Insurance Fund that is quite complete and comprehensive compared to the fee. Circular No. 20/2022/TT-BYT has stipulated 1,037 pharmaceutical and biological active ingredients in 27 groups, along with 59 radioactive drugs and markers; including 76 active ingredients in cancer treatment and immunomodulation. This list is regulated according to active ingredient names, not limited to dosage form or commercial name, creating diversity in drugs covered by health insurance.
In addition, the list of traditional medicine, herbal medicine and traditional medicine is also very large, including 229 traditional medicine, herbal medicine and 349 traditional medicine, applied consistently to all levels, including district levels.
On November 16, 2024, the Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 37/2024/TT-BYT stipulating principles and criteria for developing, updating the drug list and payment instructions. On that basis, the Ministry of Health is currently developing a new Circular to replace Circular No. 20/2022/TT-BYT, to continue expanding and updating the list of pharmaceuticals, biological products, radioactive drugs and markers covered by health insurance.
Minister Dao Hong Lan affirmed: The Ministry of Health always considers ensuring the rights of health insurance participants, especially the adequate supply of medicine, medical supplies, technical services and timely and transparent payments, as a key task, associated with the goal of social security and health care for the peoples health.
