Removing shortcomings in implementing health insurance policy for the poor and near-poor

(Baonghean) -Mr. Nguyen Chi Tuyen - Deputy Director of Nghe An Social Insurance:In reality, there is still abuse in the process of approving poor and near-poor people in a way that we have discovered through inspections and checks at the grassroots level: There are families with houses and motorbikes but they are still considered poor households; on the contrary, there are families with very difficult circumstances who should be considered poor but are not considered; there is abuse of borrowing cards from poor and near-poor people to enjoy health insurance. Then there is the mentality of going to the doctor to get medicine, even though there is no illness or pain, but only for one's own benefit. The facilities, medical staff, especially the grassroots level are still too weak, in some localities the entire commune health station only has 1 bed.

In my opinion, to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is necessary to promote the dissemination and popularization of health insurance policies and regimes, first of all, so that people are more fully aware of their rights and responsibilities; at the same time, enhance the responsibility of authorities at all levels and sectors in reviewing and accurately assessing subjects, ensuring that 100% of the poor and near-poor enjoy their legitimate rights. The surplus budget from the health insurance source for the poor and near-poor each year should have a policy of supporting each region, locality, and key facility to improve facilities and equipment to serve the people. The Provincial People's Council needs to pay attention to arranging a specialized officer to monitor the health insurance sector at the commune level, especially when we are in the process of moving towards universal health insurance, which is extremely necessary to resolve the existing problems and difficulties in the past.

Mr. Bui Nguyen Lan - Director of Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs:The management and issuance of cards for the poor and near-poor in some places is still slow and erroneous, affecting the rights of beneficiaries. Some issues related to medical examination and treatment, quality and price of medicine are raising concerns and have not satisfied the people's wishes.

The functional side of the industry will receive and continue to direct the correction, ensuring the rights of the people. However, the main responsibility is still at the commune and hamlet level to ensure the accuracy in assessing poor and near-poor households, and the responsibility of the district is to urge and closely direct the issuance of health insurance cards to the right subjects. This is also one of the solutions to implement hunger eradication and poverty reduction in the locality by supporting poor and near-poor households to receive basic free health care. On the other hand, to facilitate the poor and near-poor to avoid the situation of slow card issuance and other negative factors, the period of use of health insurance cards should be extended to 24 months instead of changing it once a year as is currently the case.

Mr. Bui Dinh Long - Deputy Director of Department of Health:Administrative procedures for health examination and treatment under health insurance in general, and for the poor and near-poor in particular, are quite complicated. In addition, because the poor and near-poor often only go to medical facilities when they are seriously ill, the cost of a treatment course is quite high, especially in cases of special illnesses such as patients with kidney dialysis, blood filtration or chronic diseases... Meanwhile, the income of this group is low, so the ability to co-pay 5% for the poor and 20% for the near-poor is quite difficult. Therefore, the State needs to study so that the poor are exempted from some of the above special illnesses, avoiding the situation of pushing the poor who are already poor even poorer and the near-poor to become poor.

Flower City -take note