From worries about medical examination and treatment costs to the policy of hospital fees exemption
The real stories of chronic patients being treated at major hospitals show that the policy of exempting hospital fees for all people is not only humane but also an urgent need.
Mr. Tran Van Hong, 61 years old in Ninh Binh, has been attached to Bach Mai Hospital for many years to perform dialysis. He has to go to the hospital three times a week. Although health insurance has paid most of the costs, he still has to worry about many items outside the list. For chronic patients like us, the policy of moving towards public hospital fees exemption is a great hope, helping to reduce the economic burden on families. I hope the State will soon implement this policy and in the near future can prioritize complete free treatment for dialysis patients, people with serious illnesses, and the poor, so that everyone has a better chance to live, Mr. Hong shared.
Sharing that concern, Ms. Le Thi Minh, 48 years old, in Thanh Hoa, who is being treated for breast cancer at K Hospital, shared: The cost of cancer treatment is very high, there are drugs outside the health insurance list that force patients to buy at high prices for each period. If hospital fees are exempted or all treatment costs are supported, patients can feel secure in their treatment, care less for their families and have more motivation to fight the disease.
The two above stories show that the everyone's hospital fee exemption policy is not only a financial support, but also gives confidence and motivation to millions of patients who are struggling with the disease every day.
Complete the National Hospital Exemption Project in September
Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan - Deputy Minister of Health - said that the Ministry of Health is urgently drafting the Project on public hospital fees exemption to complete in September, realizing the major goal set out in Resolution 72-NQ/TW of the Politburo: By 2030, people will be exempted from hospital fees at a basic level within the scope of health insurance benefits and from 2026 will be entitled to periodic health check-ups or free screenings once a year.
According to the Deputy Minister of Health, this is a key task to reduce the burden of medical costs, making health care an essential and fair right for all people. The Health Insurance Department is assigned the focal role, coordinating with units to urgently complete the draft, advise on the establishment of a Drafting Committee with the participation of ministries, branches, experts, scientists and international organizations.
Statistics from the Vietnam Social Security show that the health insurance fund currently covers 87-89% of medical examination and treatment costs, while health insurance participants must co-pay 11-13%. The policy of exempting hospital fees for all people will eliminate this co-payment, helping people access medical services without worrying about financial burden.
Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan affirmed: The Ministry of Health firmly adheres to the motto of caring for and protecting people's health as the top priority, first of all. The project will be implemented according to a strict roadmap, gradually expanding to towards exemption of hospital fees for all people in the period of 2030-2035, ensuring that all people have a health insurance card and enjoy full medical examination and treatment services".
Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Xuan Co - Director of Bach Mai Hospital - affirmed: This is a profound humanitarian policy, affirming the responsibility of the Party and State in ensuring the right to health care for all people. The above policy has a clear roadmap: In the first phase, priority will be given to vulnerable groups such as the poor, meritorious people, children, and the elderly; then move towards the goal of regular health check-ups and free hospital fees for all people. The Politburo sets a target that by 2030, people will be exempted from hospital fees at a basic level within the scope of health insurance benefits. Organizing a periodic health check-up at least once a year may start from 2026.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Xuan Co, to turn the policy into reality, it is necessary to synchronously mobilize three resources: Developing public health insurance in many flexible forms; allocate the State budget to invest in specialized health care and disadvantaged areas; at the same time, promote socialization, call on businesses, philanthropists and social security funds to participate. If all three of these resources are well implemented, with the current economic growth momentum and the determination of the whole society, the goal is that by 2030, people will be exempted from hospital fees at a basic level within the scope of health insurance benefits according to the roadmap.
With the participation of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire political system, the policy of exempting hospital fees for all people promises to become a historic milestone, ensuring that all Vietnamese people receive equal health care, "no one is left behind".
Strategic breakthrough for private health development
Professor Nguyen Van De, member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Chairman of the Vietnam Private Hospital Association - said: Resolution 72-NQ/TW sets out a strong mechanism to support sustainable development of private health: Prioritize clean land funds, allow flexible conversion of land use purposes, clear land quickly; exempt and reduce land rent and use; exempt corporate income tax for non-profit establishments; lease state-owned facilities; mobilize social resources to produce drugs, vaccines, medical equipment; encourage large-scale, high-tech private hospitals.
These solutions remove barriers to land, finance, and legality, arouse trust and long-term investment motivation, help private healthcare reduce pressure on public health, expand high-quality services, contribute to the goal of universal health insurance coverage, reduce non-communicable disease mortality and exempt basic hospital fees.
