The Ministry of Health has just responded to the petition of voters in Quang Ninh province about many people with health insurance cards but still having to pay some medical examination and treatment fees themselves.
According to Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, the Health Insurance Fund currently provides more than 9,000 technical services, meeting most basic treatment needs. Most of the services being deployed at medical facilities are within the scope of payment of the Fund.
The Ministry of Health said that this list is regularly reviewed and supplemented to ensure the rights of the people, while being suitable for the payment capacity of the Fund and patients. With drugs, Vietnam is considered one of the few countries with a fairly complete and comprehensive scope of drugs covered by health insurance. Circular 20/2022/TT-BYT stipulates 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. Coriander and herbal medicine are also rich in 229 remedies and 349 traditional medicines.
To continue expanding the list, the Ministry of Health issued Circular 37/2024/TT-BYT on principles and criteria for developing and updating the drug list, and is drafting a new Circular to replace Circular 20/2022/TT-BYT. The Ministry also studies amending Circular 07/2024/TT-BYT on drug bidding to synchronize with new regulations, creating conditions for hospitals to autonomously purchase drugs and medical equipment from many sources, not necessarily having to bid according to the Bidding Law.
Minister Dao Hong Lan said that the shortage of drugs and supplies in the period of 2022-2023 only occurred locally, due to supply chain disruptions and bidding problems. The Government, the Ministry of Health and ministries and branches have issued many policies to remove them, such as regulations on direct bidding, procurement, competitive bidding, Law No. 90/2025/QH15 and Decree 214/2025/ND-CP to increase transparency and improve the effectiveness of contractor selection.
In the coming time, the Ministry of Health is committed to continuing to publicize and make transparent the list and rates of health insurance payment; strengthen inspection, supervision and promptly supplement rare drugs and drugs that are difficult to buy. These solutions help ensure adequate supply of drugs and medical equipment to serve the peoples health care Minister Dao Hong Lan emphasized.
