Voters in Dong Thap province proposed expanding the scope of health insurance (HI) payments, supplementing the list of drugs paid for synchronously by the HI Fund from central to grassroots levels; and at the same time improving management mechanisms, promoting the application of digital technology in interconnecting medical examination and treatment data between levels.
This content was responded to by the Ministry of Health in Official Dispatch No. 1691/UBDNGS15 of the Committee for Petitions and Supervision related to answering voters' petitions.
In addition, voters also proposed to consider adjusting the prescription time for outpatient treatment for patients with chronic diseases, from the current maximum of 30 days to a minimum of 60 days and a maximum of 90 days, in order to facilitate patients and reduce pressure on medical facilities.
Answering the proposal, the Ministry of Health said that Vietnam is currently assessed as one of the few countries with the scope of drugs paid by the Health Insurance Fund relatively fully and comprehensively compared to the contribution level.
According to the Ministry of Health, Circular No. 20/2022/TT-BYT is currently regulating a list of 1,037 active ingredients of pharmaceutical and biochemical drugs belonging to 27 major groups, along with 59 radioactive drugs and markers; of which 76 active ingredients belong to the group of drugs for cancer treatment and immunomodulation. This list is built according to the name of the active ingredient, without limiting the form of preparation or trade name, thereby creating conditions for patients to access many different types of drugs in actual treatment.
For traditional medicine, the list of medicines, medicinal herbs and medicinal herbs is also expanded, including 229 traditional medicines, medicinal herbs and 349 traditional herbs, uniformly applied to all levels of medical examination and treatment, including district levels.
The Ministry of Health said it is continuing to review, amend, and supplement the list of health insurance drugs to better meet the needs of people for medical examination and treatment. Based on Circular No. 37/2024/TT-BYT issued on November 16, 2024, the Ministry is developing a new Circular replacing Circular No. 20/2022/TT-BYT to continue expanding and updating the list of drugs under the scope of health insurance payments.
Regarding the proposal to extend the outpatient prescription time for chronic patients, the Ministry of Health said that it has issued Circular No. 26/2025/TT-BYT dated June 30, 2025. Accordingly, based on the clinical condition and stability of the patient, doctors are allowed to decide the number of days of drug use, with a maximum time not exceeding 90 days.
This regulation is expected to create favorable conditions for patients, especially chronic patients, and at the same time contribute to reducing the burden on medical examination and treatment facilities.
