The Ministry of Health has received Official Letter No. 602/BDN from the Committee for Petition and Supervision, conveying important recommendations from voters of Dong Nai province (including the previous recommendations of voters of Binh Phuoc). The focus of these recommendations is the proposal to expand the list of medical examination and treatment services covered by 100% by health insurance, while raising the payment level for other medical examination and treatment services. In addition, voters also hope to review, update and supplement the list of health insurance drugs to ensure the best benefits for the people.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan affirmed: Vietnam is currently one of the few countries with a relatively complete and comprehensive list of technical services and drugs covered by the health insurance fund compared to the health insurance contribution level.
Regarding technical services: Currently, more than 9,000 technical services are being deployed at medical examination and treatment facilities that are within the scope of payment of the health insurance fund, meeting the basic treatment needs of the people.
Regarding the drug list:
New drugs: Circular No. 20/2022/TT-BYT promulgates a list of pharmaceuticals, biological products, radioactive drugs and markers covered by health insurance, including 1,037 active ingredients/medicines/medicines/medicines/medicines and biological products (including 76 active ingredients/medicines for cancer treatment and immunotherapy), along with 59 radioactive drugs and markers. It is noteworthy that this list is recorded as active ingredient/ Ingredient names, not limited in content, form of processing or commercial name. This means that the actual number of commercial drugs covered by health insurance is much larger.
Traditional medicine and medicinal herbs: Consolidated document No. 13/VBHN-BYT stipulates the list of traditional medicine, medicinal herbs and traditional medicine flavors within the scope of payment of the health insurance fund, including 229 traditional medicine, medicinal herbs and 349 traditional medicine flavors. These drug categories do not discrimin according to hospital class, allowing most medical facilities, including district level, to use the entire range.
Minister Dao Hong Lan also emphasized that the adjustment of the scope of benefits and benefits for health insurance participants must always be based on the contribution level and the ability to pay of the health insurance fund. According to the provisions of the Law on Health Insurance, people can be covered by the Health Insurance Fund for 80%, 95% or 100% of medical examination and treatment costs depending on the subject.
Currently, the Ministry of Health is urgently reviewing, amending and supplementing the Circular promulgating the list of drugs covered by the health insurance fund. The goal is to better meet treatment needs, while ensuring maximum benefits for health insurance participants in the context of the development of medicine and new types of services and drugs.
Expanding the list of services and drugs with 100% health insurance is a legitimate wish of voters, demonstrating deep concern for public health. Hopefully, with timely review and adjustment from the Ministry of Health, the rights of people participating in health insurance will increasingly improve, contributing to building a more fair and effective health system.
