Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department requested Nghe An to strengthen control of health insurance spending

On the afternoon of June 12, the Central Propaganda Department's working delegation led by Comrade Nguyen Thanh Long - Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, had a working session with the Provincial Party Standing Committee to inspect and survey the implementation of the Party's resolutions and directives in the first 6 months of 2019 and the results of 10 years of implementing Directive No. 38 - CT/TW, dated September 7, 2009 of the Secretariat on promoting health insurance (HI) in the new situation (Directive No. 38). Photo: Thanh Duy

Working with the delegation on the side of Nghe An province were comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council. Comrades of the Provincial Party Executive Committee: Kha Van Tam - Standing Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department; Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, along with leaders of the Propaganda Department and a number of provincial departments.

High health insurance fund deficit

In the first 6 months of the year, the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee issued a plan to organize the study and dissemination of 12 resolutions, directives and notices of the Party from the provincial to grassroots levels. The organization of study, research and dissemination was ensured to be serious and of high quality.

In addition, when there was a policy from the Central Government, the Provincial Party Standing Committee directed all levels and sectors to conduct timely preliminary and final reviews, including a preliminary and final review of 8 directives and resolutions related to propaganda work.

Regarding the results of 10 years of implementing Directive No. 38, the province has thoroughly grasped and raised awareness of the position, role and significance; implemented policies synchronously and effectively; innovated information, communication and propaganda work; State management and fund management on health insurance; improved the quality of medical examination and treatment and especially carried out the campaign to mobilize the entire population to participate in health insurance;...

Comrade Nguyen Quoc Trung - Director of the Department of Social Affairs of the Central Propaganda Department spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

Through the above activities, the health insurance coverage rate of Nghe An from 2009 was 59%, increased to 88.7% in 2018, exceeding the target set by the Government. In 2018, the whole province had 2,778,453 people participating in health insurance calculated by the provincial fund.

The total number of health examination and treatment facilities using health insurance also reached 545, including 524 state medical facilities, 21 private medical facilities and covering from province to district and commune.

However, there are also problems such as: In recent years, when the health insurance policy changed, Nghe An had a deficit, exceeded the fund, exceeded the annual government budget in the high rate group, directly affecting the health insurance examination and treatment work.

In 2018, Nghe An had a total health insurance revenue of 2,432,957 million VND. However, the total expenditure on health insurance examination and treatment was up to 3,189,628 million VND;…

At the meeting, members of the working delegation and relevant sectors of Nghe An province discussed the shortcomings and difficulties in state management and fund management of health insurance.

Strengthen supervision to avoid profiteering from health insurance fund

Speaking at the meeting, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Xuan Son affirmed that Nghe An has focused on thoroughly grasping the Party's resolutions and directives; promptly developing action programs and implementation projects; and directing decisively, with focus and key points.

Regarding Directive No. 38, the province has paid attention to leadership and direction and the results have been remarkable; as well as improving the quality of medical examination and treatment to ensure people's rights and prevent negativity in this field, especially using technological solutions.

Nghe An will absorb the opinions of the working group and try to overcome difficulties and limitations in State management and fund management of health insurance.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

In addition, the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee also made 3 proposals to the working delegation, which are: Finding solutions to remove the suspension of health insurance funds in medical facilities; continuing to regulate to help the province solve the problem of overspending the health insurance fund; and researching to promptly overcome the arising shortcomings in health insurance policies.

Concluding the meeting, comrade Nguyen Thanh Long - Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department assessed that Nghe An has seriously implemented the work of disseminating, thoroughly grasping and bringing the Party's resolutions and directives into life; thereby promoting socio-economic development, ensuring social security, and improving people's lives.

Regarding Directive No. 38, the province has basically implemented it synchronously, bringing about many positive changes that are worth noting. Besides, in the field of health insurance, there are still shortcomings and limitations that require efforts to resolve at both macro and micro levels.

In particular, with the deficit of the health insurance fund, Nghe An needs to socialize more strongly, diversify types of health insurance; need to improve the coordination mechanism between the State management agency and the Social Insurance (SI) and the SI with medical facilities, especially further enhancing the role of the State management agency at all levels with health insurance.

Paying hospital fees at Nghe An Provincial General Friendship Hospital. Photo courtesy of Thanh Son

The Department of Health and the provincial Social Insurance regularly communicate and exchange information to promptly report to the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee any arising problems or shortcomings to report to superiors, especially the Vietnam Social Insurance, for timely resolution.

The Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department also requested the province to better control health insurance expenditures; strengthen direction, inspection and supervision of local Party committees and authorities with health insurance to avoid profiteering.

On the other hand, the province needs to develop a comprehensive plan to control the use of health insurance, enhance the effectiveness of healthcare in the area, especially improve the quality of medical examination and treatment at the grassroots level; attach importance to propaganda and mobilize people to use health insurance effectively.