Patients register for medical services at the Hanoi-based Saint Paul Hospital (Photo: VNA)10 million people were yet to be covered by health insurance as of May 2019, it
was reported at an online discussion on sustainable development of health
insurance held by the on June 25.
Bui Sy Loi, Vice Chairman of the
National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, said at present 100 percent
of , or 3.1 million people, have
been covered by health insurance. The rate among is more
than 90 percent.
He noted that public awareness
about health insurance has remarkably improved, with more people joining voluntary
insurance.
To achieve the goal of more than
90 percent of the national population covered by health insurance set in the
Prime Minister’s Decision 1167/QD-TTg dated June 28, 2016, the NA official said
more attention should be paid to students and school children in expanding
health insurance coverage.
Statistics of Vietnam Social
Security (VSS) showed more than 17 million school children and students joined
health insurance in April, 2019, accounting for 94 percent of the total,
leaving 6 percent, or 1 million, uncovered.
Participants at the discussion
suggested more educational campaigns targeting students on the necessity of
, along with financial support for those in disadvantaged
circumstances.
VSS Deputy Director General Pham
Luong Son also urged local authorities, schools and other related agencies to
strengthen their coordination in the effort.
The health sector should invest
more in medical services and insurance agencies should intensify the reform of procedures
to facilitate the payment of benefits for the insured, said the
participants.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
