Deputy Prime Minister informs about estimated budget for periodic health check-ups and free hospital fees for people

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long has detailed the expected budget for increasing allowances for medical staff, free periodic health check-ups and free basic hospital fees for people.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long - Photo: PHAM HAI

On the morning of September 16, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long presented the core content of Resolution 72 of the Politburo on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of people's health and the action program to implement the resolution.

Towards comprehensive health care for the people

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Resolution 72 does not replace but is a component part, continuing to inherit the Party's viewpoint on protecting people's health... However, the resolution has some highlights and is more specific and specific.

Specifically, looking at people's health care in a more comprehensive scope, from health factors, how to eat, how to exercise...

The factors add up to a healthy person, and when healthy, illness is reduced. One of the highlights of resolution 72 is there.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the resolution clearly states the goal of people having access to quality medical services, aiming towards comprehensive health care.

From 2026, people will have regular health check-ups or free screening at least once a year, and will have an electronic health book created to manage their health over their lifetime, gradually reducing the burden of medical costs.

By 2030, people will be exempt from basic hospital fees within the scope of health insurance benefits according to the roadmap.

Conference scene - Photo: GIA HAN

Free hospitalisation: Possible and feasible in the near future

Regarding implementation, the Deputy Prime Minister reported further on the issue of funding. He said that Resolution 72 has many specific contents, but there are 3 contents that the society is interested in and is concerned about whether the State has enough resources.

Regarding the group of issues of preferential allowances at different levels for different subjects, which can be 70%, 100% of the salary for groups of medical staff working at public medical facilities in remote, mountainous, difficult areas, priority areas, primary health care, and preventive medicine.

The Deputy Prime Minister informed that it is expected to cost 4,335 billion VND/year for this group of issues, an increase compared to the current amount. He said this content can be balanced.

Regarding the cost of regular health check-ups and free screening for people , the Deputy Prime Minister said that the current population is 100 million people (actually about 106 million).

He cited 100 million people and each periodic health check-up cost 300,000 VND/person. Thus, 30,000 billion VND is needed.

Of this, the number of employees who undergo periodic medical examinations and screenings must be paid by the employer. Thus, from this 30,000 billion VND, about 4,800 billion VND can be deducted for 16 million employees (rounded).

According to the Deputy Prime Minister's calculation, the State's part to be spent is 25,200 billion VND.

Regarding the basic hospital fee exemption policy in the resolution , the Deputy Prime Minister informed that countries are very cautious when calculating hospital fee exemption and there are many different ways.

As a set amount of tax money or a subsidy for those who qualify or follow the health insurance revenue stream...

He said that currently it is only an estimate and the Ministry of Health has collected data for 2024. Accordingly, the health insurance fund will pay about 140,000 billion VND, and patients will pay about 21,545 billion VND themselves.

"If calculated like that and of course having to calculate the increase, from 2026, the State will have to spend a maximum of 21,545 billion VND/year. In this matter, as I understand, the current balance of the health insurance fund is around 49,000 - 50,000 billion VND. So, it can be temporary for the first 2 years.

Later, we must calculate a roadmap to increase health insurance revenue to gradually balance it," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, here is some information on detailed budget figures to implement the above contents. "The Ministry of Health and the Government have made relatively careful calculations and are able to balance and make it feasible in the coming time," the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed.

THANH CHUNG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/pho-thu-tuong-thong-tin-du-kien-kinh-phi-kham-suc-khoe-dinh-ky-mien-vien-phi-cho-nguoi-dan-20250916095131337.htm