Strengthening the implementation of health insurance for students

(Baonghean) - In the 2015-2016 school year, the Department of Education and Training - Social Insurance - Provincial Youth Union actively coordinated to direct affiliated units to implement the health insurance policy for students. However, the rate of students participating in health insurance has not met the set target, the rate of students participating in health insurance in the 2015-2016 school year only reached 91.26%; the rate of students participating in health insurance is uneven among localities.

(Illustration).

With the goal of striving by 2017, 100% of students in the province will participate in health insurance according to the Prime Minister's regulations in Decision No. 1167/QD-TTg dated June 28, 2016 on adjusting the assignment of health insurance implementation targets for the period 2016 - 2020; at the same time, continuing to effectively implement Resolution 21-NQ/TW dated November 22, 2012 of the Politburo on strengthening the Party's leadership over social insurance and health insurance work for the period 2012 - 2020; Directive No. 05/CT-TTg dated April 2, 2015 of the Prime Minister on strengthening the implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies; on September 14, 2016, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Official Dispatch No. 6780/UBND-VX on strengthening the direction of implementing health insurance for students.

Accordingly, the People's Committee of Nghe An province requests Directors of relevant departments and branches, People's Committees of districts, cities and towns; Principals of Universities, Colleges, Vocational High Schools and Vocational Training Schools in the province to effectively implement the following contents:

1. Department of Education and Training of Nghe An province:

- Closely coordinate with the Provincial Social Insurance, Provincial Youth Union and relevant units to organize propaganda and dissemination of health insurance policies for students; regularly inspect and supervise the implementation of health insurance at the Departments of Education and Training and affiliated units.

- Directing the Department of Education and Training and its affiliated units:

+ Determining that the good implementation of health insurance for students is the responsibility of the school's Board of Directors and teachers.

+ Coordinate with the Social Insurance of districts to advise and propose to the People's Committees at the same level to direct the work of health insurance for students in the area.

+ Actively support and closely coordinate with the Social Insurance agency to organize guidance for students to participate and be issued health insurance cards in accordance with regulations. Ensure 100% of students participate in health insurance (Regulations in Article 2, Clause 5 of Decision No. 1167/QD-TTg dated June 28, 2016 on adjusting the assignment of health insurance implementation targets for the period 2016 - 2020).

+ Coordinate with the Social Insurance agency to review schools that have not reached 100% coverage, find the cause, promptly report to the People's Committee of the district, city, or town to have appropriate solutions to encourage students to participate in health insurance.

+ Include the criteria for students participating in health insurance in the content of consideration for recognition of emulation and reward titles.

- Take the lead in coordinating with the Department of Health to perfect the school health system to provide primary health care for students at educational institutions in the province.

- Coordinate with the Department of Finance and the Provincial Social Insurance to advise and propose to the Provincial People's Committee to increase the level of health insurance support for students from the local budget (in addition to the current minimum support level of 30% from the budget), especially in difficult areas.

Thanh Chuong district Social Insurance officers review and verify information of farmer households participating in health insurance in Thanh Yen commune (illustrative photo)

2. Provincial social insurance:

- Preside and coordinate with relevant departments, agencies, and mass media agencies to strengthen the dissemination and popularization of the Law on Health Insurance and guiding documents on the implementation of health insurance for students to parents and schools in the area in many appropriate forms.

- Coordinate with the Department of Education and Training and relevant departments and agencies to inspect and supervise the implementation of student health insurance.

- Coordinate with the Department of Health and medical facilities to promptly resolve problems and ensure the rights of students when participating in health insurance.

- Direct districts, cities and towns to coordinate with the Department of Education and Training to effectively implement student health insurance, guide schools to properly implement processes, records and procedures, and create the most favorable conditions for students to participate in health insurance.

- Propose the Provincial People's Committee, all levels and sectors to promptly commend and reward individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in student health insurance work.

3. Department of Health:

- Direct local medical facilities to perform well the medical examination and treatment for students with health insurance cards, creating conditions for students to receive the best health care.

- Coordinate with the Department of Education and Training to strengthen and develop school health facilities, organize training, coaching, and professional development in school health work; provide professional support for school health staff.

4. Department of Finance:

- Preside and coordinate with the provincial Social Insurance to make estimates and promptly allocate funds to support health insurance payments for students in accordance with regulations.

- Preside and coordinate with relevant Departments and branches to advise and propose to the Provincial People's Committee to increase the level of support for student health insurance from the local budget (in addition to the current 30% support level).

5. Department of Information and Communications:

- Directing news agencies and newspapers in the province to coordinate with the Social Insurance agency to promote propaganda, dissemination and consultation on policies and laws on health insurance.

6. Provincial Youth Union

- Coordinate with the Department of Education and Training, Social Insurance of Nghe An province in disseminating and popularizing health insurance policies for students at schools.

- Direct the Standing Committees of the District, City, and Town Youth Unions; and the Youth Unions of affiliated Universities and Colleges to strengthen the dissemination of health insurance for students on the information channels of the Youth Union.

Health insurance has become a powerful financial support for many people coming to see a doctor and receive treatment at Tay Bac Nghe An Regional General Hospital (illustrative photo).

7. People's Committees of districts, cities and towns

- Direct the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Health to coordinate with the Social Insurance agency at the same level to disseminate policies and laws on health insurance in schools in the area, helping parents and students understand that health insurance is a compulsory insurance type;

- Propose solutions to increase the rate of health insurance participation of local students, striving to reach 100%.

- Direct the establishment of interdisciplinary inspection teams to inspect educational institutions that have not promptly implemented student health insurance or have a low rate of student health insurance participation.

- Direct specialized departments and offices to closely coordinate with district, city and town social insurance agencies to guide the collection and issuance of health insurance cards for students; develop plans and include implementation results in annual emulation targets.

8. Principals of Universities, Colleges, Vocational High Schools, and Vocational Training Schools in the area:

- Strengthen propaganda and raise awareness among students about the role of health insurance in primary health care and protection. Organize extracurricular education sessions on health care, counseling, reproductive health and family planning.

- Include criteria for implementing student health insurance in the school year plan. Student health insurance implementation results are one of the annual competition assessment contents of faculties, departments, and classes.

9. The Provincial People's Committee also proposedNghe An Provincial Fatherland Front CommitteeStrengthen the direction, propaganda and coordination of launching emulation movements, mobilizing all classes of people to actively participate and properly implement the provisions of the Law on Health Insurance. At the same time, assign the Provincial Social Insurance to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to organize the implementation, periodically summarize and report to the Provincial People's Committee according to regulations.

People's Committee of Nghe An province