The policy was approved by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council at the 5th session on September 22, to support patients in difficult circumstances to maintain long-term treatment. This is a group of patients who need regular kidney replacement treatment, with high accumulated costs and the risk of creating an economic burden for families.
100% support for health insurance co-payment
According to the content of the resolution passed, the policy applies to people who are permanently or temporarily residing for 12 months or more in Ho Chi Minh City, have health insurance, have stage 5 chronic kidney disease and are being treated with regular periodic kidney artificial kidney therapy or peripheral dialysis (CAPD).
However, not all dialysis patients are eligible for support.
The first group is children aged 6 to under 16 years old.
The second group is people from households that have just escaped poverty within 36 months, calculated from the time they are recognized as having escaped poverty by competent authorities.
The third group is elderly people aged 60 and over who are in difficult circumstances. People belonging to this group must meet living conditions and income according to city regulations, such as living single, lonely, single or living with relatives but having income below the income criterion in the multidimensional poverty standard of Ho Chi Minh City.
Support levels and things patients need to pay attention to
The most notable point is that the city supports 100% of the costs and health insurance payments for eligible subjects.
This means that the policy is not that the city pays all kidney dialysis treatment costs for patients. The cost part within the scope of HI and the part that patients have to pay together will be determined according to HI regulations; the city supports the co-payment part for the group of policy beneficiaries.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, stage 5 chronic kidney disease requires repeated and prolonged kidney replacement therapy. People undergoing hemodialysis usually have to be treated about 3 times a week, while people undergoing peritontal dialysis have to perform it daily.
The city currently has 63 treatment facilities and is managing about 9,882 patients. The group expected to benefit from the policy is about 692 people, including children, people who have just escaped poverty and elderly people in difficult circumstances.
For patients, to enjoy policies, it is necessary to pay attention to three factors: having participated in health insurance; belonging to the correct group of beneficiaries; and meeting the residence conditions in Ho Chi Minh City according to the resolution.
The policy is expected to help patients reduce a part of the cost burden, limit the risk of having to interrupt treatment due to economic difficulties and support families to maintain long-term patient care.
