'Helplessness' or 'indifference'?
(Baonghean) - Participating in health insurance is upholding the tradition of "mutual support" of our nation. Because no one can avoid illness, nor do we know when we will get sick, how severe the illness will be, or how much the treatment will cost...
Individual finances, especially for the poor, can be difficult to compensate for, but by pooling their resources, they can create a common fund to help cover medical expenses.
With this spirit and the aim of ensuring social security and creating equality for all citizens, the Party and State of Vietnam are increasingly improving policies on medical examination and treatment. In particular, Circular 40/2015/TT-BYT on "inter-provincial" access to primary healthcare has allowed those with health insurance cards to choose a quality and suitable place for treatment. This means that medical facilities that attract more patients will have more funding for operation and development. Therefore, primary healthcare facilities must constantly innovate by improving professional quality and service style, so that patients will be the ones who benefit most from receiving the best possible care.
According to a recent report by the Vietnam Social Security, by the end of August 2016, the nationwide health insurance coverage rate reached 80%, meeting the government's target. However, health insurance medical examination and treatment costs in 37 provinces and cities overspent by more than 3,400 billion VND in the past eight months. Despite the increased spending, this has resulted in more people receiving medical care in better conditions!
But behind the figures of overspending on health insurance are other irregularities. Some opportunists have quickly exploited loopholes in the implementation of this well-intentioned policy to profit and embezzle the health insurance fund. Some medical facilities have accepted downgrading, prescribing unnecessary services and medications indiscriminately; some people who are not sick are also going to the hospital for examinations... These actions have put the health insurance fund at risk of collapse and robbed those with genuine needs of medical treatment.
The question here is whether the relevant authorities, such as the health and social insurance agencies at all levels, are "powerless" or "turning a blind eye" to these profiteering activities? And how long will this profiteering continue, and who will be held accountable?
In light of this situation, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has directed an investigation and handling of this matter. Hopefully, that directive will not be ignored!
Compassion
