A doctor examines an HIV patient at the HIV/AIDS prevention and control centre of Khanh Hoa province (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has expanded health
insurance coverage among taking to 83.4 percent at
present from 50 percent in 2016, helping ensure that they can maintain
long-term treatment in the context of decreasing international financial
support for the field.
According to the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department
under the Health Ministry, the rate has reached 100 percent in five provinces
in the country which are Ha Nam, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son and Ca Mau, and
more than 90 percent in 30 provinces and centrally-run cities.
Stephanie De Goes, coordinator of PEPFAR (the US President’s
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) in Vietnam said health insurance is the
backbone of a nation’s sustainable HIV/AIDS treatment programme.
PEPFAR has worked with Vietnamese Health Ministry and other
partners to expand coverage among HIV patients and improve access
to HIV/AIDS treatment services through health insurance.
According to Stephanie De Goes, Vietnam is the most
successful among countries working with PEPFAR to provide health insurance for
HIV patients.
The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department said the
health sector is rushing to prepare for the provision of ARV medicine through the
Health Insurance Fund as from January 1, 2019 under the Prime Minister’s
Decision 1125/QD-TTg dated July 31, 2017. Accordingly, after the decision takes
effect, 191 medical establishments will be provided with ARV medicine to treat around
48,000 patients.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
