Adjusting hospital fees to improve the quality of health insurance services

According to the Ministry of Health, after 3 years of adjusting medical service prices, although localities have only adjusted at 60 - 80% of the prescribed level, it has brought about certain effectiveness.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Khoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment (Ministry of Health), said that thanks to the adjustment of service prices, hospitals have used 15% of medical examination and treatment fees to buy more beds, chairs, renovate and repair clinics, etc. That is the premise to improve the quality of services in the industry.

According to Mr. Khoa, increasing hospital fees is not an increase in the cost of providing medical services, but rather transferring the costs previously directly subsidized by the State to hospitals into the price, transferring this budget to support health insurance participants.

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Patients will not have to pay additional costs that were not previously included in the price. When the price includes all costs, it will encourage hospitals to deploy and develop medical techniques, so that people can enjoy these services right in the area.

The joint circular regulating the unification of prices for health examination and treatment services covered by health insurance among hospitals of the same rank nationwide only applies to health insurance payments; for those without health insurance cards, the current prices will initially apply, so they will not be affected.

The rights of the poor, ethnic minorities living in areas with difficult socio-economic conditions, children under 6 years old, people with revolutionary contributions... who are eligible to purchase health insurance from the State budget and other financial sources are still guaranteed.

For medical facilities, when the full price is calculated, they will have the conditions to buy medicines, supplies, chemicals, etc. with higher quality. Thereby, it will increase the quality of medical services, promoting the socialization of health care. On the other hand, the service price calculated with full costs, including salary, will change the awareness of medical staff in serving patients well.

According to Chinhphu.vn