Medical service prices increase in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in the third quarter of 2013

Localities should avoid adjustments in September because this is the first month of the new school year, and there may be price fluctuations in many items.

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In 2013, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and a few grade I hospitals of ministries and branches such as the Army, Police, Transport, and Post Office will have to complete the adjustment of medical service prices.

Discussing this, Deputy Director of the Department of Financial Planning, Ministry of Health, Mr. Nguyen Nam Lien said that it is expected that Hanoi will adjust the price of medical services in the third quarter of 2013, and Ho Chi Minh City will do so in the fourth quarter of 2013.

To avoid major changes in the price of medical services this time, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will avoid making adjustments in September because this is the first month of the new school year. At the same time, they will not immediately implement the maximum level but will have a gradual implementation roadmap, suitable to people's ability to pay and balancing the Health Insurance Fund.

According to the leader of the Department of Financial Planning, Ministry of Health, from June 2012 to now, 61/63 provinces and cities have adjusted the price of medical services to increase by 60-80% of the maximum level. Only a few special end-line hospitals, treating seriously ill and incurable patients, implementing advanced techniques and high costs, have prices at around 90% of the maximum price.

Mr. Nguyen Nam Lien said that the adjustment to increase medical service prices in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and some hospitals in the sector applies to 447 out of more than 3,000 medical services, so the impact is not much. Especially the group of people with Health Insurance (BHYT) cards (accounting for 68% of the population) will benefit the most and be least affected by this adjustment.

Specifically, the group of people with revolutionary contributions, children under 6 years old have had their health insurance cards purchased by the State, and 100% of the costs are paid by health insurance according to regulations, so they will not be affected. The group of retirees, the poor, and ethnic minorities, the State has also issued health insurance cards, when going to see a doctor, health insurance pays 95%, so they only have to pay 5% of the additional amount. Other subjects with health insurance cards are paid 80%, and only have to pay 20% of the additional amount.

Of the total hospital fees that patients have to pay, about 70% is for medicine, blood, infusion fluids, supplies, and chemicals that patients directly use during treatment days, collected based on actual usage and the hospital's purchase price, so it is not affected by this price adjustment./.

According to (Chinhphu.vn) - LT