Reviewing the implementation of policies and laws on health insurance

On the morning of October 16, at the Headquarters of the National Assembly agencies (22 Hung Vuong, Hanoi), the Standing Committee of the Committee for Culture and Social Affairs held an expanded meeting to review the Government's Report on the implementation of policies and laws on health insurance and the management and use of the Health Insurance Fund in 2024; the Government's Report on the results of implementing Resolution No. 68/2013/QH13 of the National Assembly on promoting the implementation of policies and laws on health insurance, towards universal health insurance in 2023 and 2024 and summarizing 12 years of implementation.

Vice Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Social Affairs Nguyen Hoang Mai speaks at the meeting

Attending the meeting were the Standing Committee of Culture and Social Affairs; leaders of the Ministry of Health; representatives of the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security , the Ministry of Finance, etc.

Proposal to end the implementation of Resolution No. 68/2013/QH13

Reporting on the implementation results of Resolution No. 68/2013/QH13 of the National Assembly, Director of the Department of Health Insurance Tran Thi Trang said that in 2023 and 2024, as well as 12 years of implementation, the Government, ministries, branches and localities have led, directed and basically implemented all tasks, policy targets and laws on health insurance assigned by the National Assembly, and a number of tasks and targets have been completed beyond the assigned levels in the Resolution.

In 2016, the rate of population participating in health insurance (HI) reached 81.9%, completing 4 years ahead of the target set by Resolution No. 68/2013/QH13 of the National Assembly (by 2020, reaching 80% of the population participating in HI). Since 2016, this rate has continuously increased, in the first 6 months of 2025, the HI coverage rate has reached 90.07% of the population.

Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha reported and clarified issues of concern to delegates.

Regarding investment in commune health stations in areas with difficult and especially difficult socio-economic conditions, according to the Government's report, the assigned targets have basically been completed. From July 1, 2025, with the implementation of two-level local government as well as the merger of a number of commune health stations, more favorable conditions have been created for investment in commune health stations in these areas.

Up to now, Resolution No. 68/2013/QH13 of the National Assembly has expired to implement the targets and tasks, basically completed the targets and tasks, some targets have been over-fulfilled to implement the policies and guidelines for the new period. Therefore, the Government requests the National Assembly to allow the end of the implementation of Resolution No. 68/2013/QH13 of the National Assembly.

Regarding the implementation of policies and laws on health insurance and the management and use of the Health Insurance Fund in 2024, Director of the Health Insurance Department Tran Thi Trang said that the Government has focused on promoting the building and improvement of institutions and policies, and improving state management capacity in the fields of health and health insurance.

In particular, based on the summary of 15 years of implementing the Law on Health Insurance, the Government has submitted to the National Assembly the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance, as well as issued timely guiding documents to take effect from January 1, 2025.

Thereby, many urgent problems and issues have been promptly resolved, ensuring social security, rights and interests of health insurance participants, medical examination and treatment facilities, contributing to reducing the rate of direct out-of-pocket expenditure of health insurance participants, and strengthening the management and effective use of the Fund.

Director of the Department of Health Insurance, Ministry of Health Tran Thi Trang presents the Government's reports

Regarding the management and use of the Health Insurance Fund, according to the Government's report, the Health Insurance Fund has a surplus of over 49 billion VND. However, according to the representative of the Health Insurance Department, Ministry of Health, the payment of medical examination and treatment costs under health insurance is still stuck and pending, because some documents, regulations, and professional instructions that serve as the basis for appraisal and payment have not been amended in a timely and synchronous manner, leading to different understandings, contributing to affecting the organization of medical examination and treatment under health insurance and health insurance appraisal.

Therefore, in the coming time, the Government has assigned the Ministry of Health and relevant ministries and branches to review and research to urgently propose amendments and supplements to Decree No. 96/2023/ND-CP of the Government detailing a number of articles of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, promulgate and amend other relevant documents to ensure convenience and consistency in organizing the implementation of policies and laws on health insurance and to implement Resolution 72-NQ/TW of the Politburo on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of people's health.

The Government also proposed that the National Assembly Standing Committee agree on the policy of issuing a Decree allowing the establishment of public ownership of medical equipment donated during the Covid-19 pandemic but not yet completed the establishment procedures, to ensure funding for medical examination and treatment facilities to perform technical services on such equipment.

Strengthen propaganda so that people can proactively fight against the situation of delay and evasion of health insurance payment.

Delegates highly appreciated the results of implementing policies and laws on health insurance and the management and use of the Health Insurance Fund in 2024, basically meeting the targets assigned by the National Assembly. The total number of health examinations and treatments under health insurance increased significantly. The attitude and quality of service were both improved, and people were basically satisfied.

National Assembly member working full-time at the Committee for Culture and Social Affairs Pham Trong Nghia speaks

Some opinions say that the problem of late payment and evasion of health insurance payment is mainly due to ineffective propaganda, causing people and employers to not clearly understand their rights and responsibilities. Therefore, it is recommended that the insurance industry step up propaganda about the benefits of participating in health insurance so that people can proactively fight, monitor and contribute to solving the above situation.

Delegates also suggested that the Ministry of Health review and clarify the causes of the phenomenon of some provinces having higher medical examination and treatment costs compared to the national increase rate; compare with international standards to clarify the sustainability when the frequency of medical examination and treatment in 2024 is 1.9 times/card holder...

Continue to innovate the form and content of propaganda and communication so that people and businesses understand the importance of participating in health insurance, focusing on the 5% of the population that has not participated in health insurance.

Overview of the meeting

In his concluding remarks, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Society Nguyen Hoang Mai requested the Ministry of Health to synthesize and fully absorb comments to perfect legal documents, avoid repeating existing problems, and at the same time emphasize the need for breakthrough solutions and specific roadmaps for important policies in the fields of health and health insurance.

In particular, it is recommended that the Ministry of Health conduct breakthrough research in implementing the family doctor model, remote medical examination and treatment, and advise on institutionalization in the National Assembly's resolution.

Regarding the form of ending Resolution 68 of the National Assembly, the Standing Committee of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee will discuss with relevant agencies to consider the optimal solution, which can be included in a general resolution or a separate thematic resolution. The guiding viewpoint is to emphasize the responsibility of the Government in continuing to implement important tasks, instead of just stopping at ending the resolution.

Vice Chairman of the Committee Nguyen Hoang Mai affirmed that the Committee for Culture and Society will always accompany the Ministry of Health and relevant parties, with the highest goal of contributing to improving the quality of people's health care, while creating favorable conditions for all organizations and individuals participating in this work to operate most effectively.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/tham-tra-tinh-hinh-thuc-hien-chinh-sach-phap-luat-ve-bao-hiem-y-te-10390598.html