This afternoon (October 24), continuing the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly, delegates discussed in groups the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance (HI).
Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance this time aims to review existing problems in implementing the health insurance policy with the highest goal of being most convenient for health insurance participants, creating favorable conditions for people's health care.
“We have organized conferences and seminars to resolve difficulties in implementing health insurance in the past time, in which the most pressing issue is the issue of referrals” – the Minister of Health added that in addition to creating favorable conditions for people to receive timely medical examination and treatment, there must be adequate investment so that provincial, district and grassroots hospitals also meet technical requirements, avoiding people having to move from local to central level for medical examination and treatment.
Currently, the Ministry of Health has implemented measures such as directing the front lines, sending doctors to difficult lower levels, and remote medical examination and treatment policies.
Regarding drug transfer, ensuring medicine and medical supplies for people is a requirement associated with medical facilities.
Minister Dao Hong Lan said that, in recent times, although the law has been adjusted, in reality, not all bidding packages can be purchased immediately when participating in bidding.
The head of the Ministry of Health gave an example of Duc Giang General Hospital reporting that it had purchased 95% of the packages when the bidding packages were opened. However, there were still 5% that could not be bid because the drugs were not available on the market or the prices changed or were not sold. "When we participate in the market, the bidding mechanism follows the market," the Minister emphasized.
To resolve the unavoidable situation of not being able to buy for people, there are two mechanisms that the Ministry of Health is currently proposing.
Accordingly, in addition to removing the procurement bidding mechanism, this law also includes the transfer of drugs between medical facilities. Last month, hospital A was able to buy them, but now hospital B needs them, so the hospitals are still transferred to each other. This transfer of drugs is still paid for by the health insurance fund so that drugs can be immediately available to treat people, avoiding the situation where people go out to buy drugs themselves.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan shared: “To be honest, doctors do not want people to go out to buy medicine, buying outside is related to the quality of treatment. Drug transfer is a new content and doing so is the solution” – the Minister shared more.
Regarding the investment policy for primary health care, Ms. Dao Hong Lan said that this is a very important matter. The Ministry of Health has reported to the Government Party Committee, submitted to the Secretariat and issued Directive 25 on strengthening the primary health care system in the new situation. According to the Minister, this is the guiding viewpoint of the Secretariat regarding the primary health care system.
