Surge in HCM City’s insured AIDS patients

 

HCM
City (VNA) – The proportion of people with HIV/AIDS in HCM City who
have health insurance d to 70 percent last February from 20 percent in
April last year, according to the city HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre.

The
Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control reported that aid under the US
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, for free
anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs and treatment would be cut by 40 percent this year
end and end next year.

For
the 2016-20 period the Government has allocated only 100 billion VND (4.4
million USD) for buying ARV drugs for health facilities, Dr Vu Duc Long of the
administration, said.

This
means have to pay for medicines and treatment, he told a
workshop held on March 30 to review HIV/AIDS treatment in the city last year
paid for by health insurance.

But
many of the patients have financial difficulties, he said.

Dr
Duong Minh Hai of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre said since last May the centre
and other relevant organisations have counselled 27,685 out of 29,402 patients
getting treatment.

This
has helped them understand the benefits of health insurance, he said.

As
a consequence 70 percent of the patients have bought health insurance, he added.

Of
the remaining, 408 cannot afford it, 751 lack identification cards and other
documents such as temporary or permanent residential book.

Dr
Nguyen Huu Hung, deputy head of the city Department of Health, said the
department has recommended that the People’s Committee should approve the
purchase of for poor HIV/AIDS patents using the abundance of
money in the health insurance fund.

Nguyen
Anh Phong of the Vietnam Network of People Living with HIV said members want to
collaborate with the centre to help people with HIV/AIDS lacking relevant
documents buy insurance.

They
hope to help them acquire the documents, he explained.

Bui
Duc Duong, deputy head of the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control, said
however that patients without insurance are “not left behind” because the
managers and staff of health facilities usually mobilise donations to fund
their treatment.

Thu
Duc District Hospital, for instance, has funded the purchase of health
insurance for 40 patients who cannot afford it.

Tieu
Thi Thu Van, head of the city HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre, said patients are now
treated at four city-level hospitals, many preventive health centres and 16
district general hospitals.

Around
3,000 are treated at ward and commune health centres, she said.

The
Department of Health plans to allow to treat patients
with ARV drugs, she added.

As
of January 31 last year 116,000 patients were getting ARV therapy at 393 health
facilities and 32 prisons, according to the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS
Control.-VNA