Enhancing responsibility in implementing health insurance policy for the poor

(Baonghean) -After monitoring the implementation of health insurance policies for the poor and near-poor in some localities in the province, on the morning of November 11, the Culture - Social Committee of the Provincial People's Council had a working session with leaders of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Department of Health and Social Insurance of the province.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission, Head of the Culture - Social Commission chaired the meeting.

The results of the inspection and supervision show that the Provincial People's Committee and the sectors have promptly issued documents directing the implementation of legal policies on health insurance for the poor and near-poor in the province. The propaganda and guidance on the implementation of the policy have initially created responsibility for the government and political system at all levels and raised awareness for beneficiaries. The work of making lists, reviewing and issuing health insurance cards for the poor and near-poor has been timely, basically correct and sufficient for the subjects. Up to this point, 100% of poor households have been issued health insurance cards. The work of medical examination and treatment and the management and use of health insurance funds for the poor and near-poor have been well coordinated by the sectors, especially the average treatment costs for the poor and near-poor have reached a relatively high number.

However, in addition, the work of propagating, thoroughly understanding and disseminating health insurance policies to the subjects still has many limitations, especially the publicity and transparency of the benefits enjoyed by the poor and near-poor when participating in health insurance has not been implemented well. The card issuance is still slow, missing subjects, wrong names..., affecting the rights of participants. The rate of near-poor people participating in health insurance is still low.

Concluding the meeting, comrade Nguyen Xuan Son evaluated the efforts of all levels in ensuring health insurance policies for the poor and near-poor. He proposed that the Provincial People's Committee continue to direct specialized sectors and authorities at all levels to better implement this policy; remove difficulties and obstacles at the grassroots level, and create conditions for people to participate in health insurance. The Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs needs to pay attention to urging, reviewing, and making a list of poor and near-poor households to ensure accuracy and timeliness. The Department of Health should soon study whether or not to maintain the co-payment regime in examination and treatment of 5% for the poor and 20% for the near-poor. Continue to pay attention to ensuring conditions of facilities, equipment as well as staff, improving the quality of medical examination and treatment at the grassroots level. Strengthen inspection work, avoid abuse of health insurance cards, including private medicine and pharmacy. The Social Insurance Agency coordinates with the Department of Health to have a program to manage the fund and use the health insurance fund effectively for these subjects. Improve the quality of card issuance, limit errors, and create conditions for the poor and near-poor to have better guaranteed health care benefits.

Minh Chi