The Ethnic Committee responded to Nghe An voters' petition on supporting the issuance of health insurance cards to people in mountainous communes that meet new rural standards.

The content of the proposal is as follows:According to Decision No. 861/QD-TTg dated June 4, 2021 of the Prime Minister on approving the list of communes in regions I, II, III in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2025, communes in regions II and III, if recognized as meeting new rural standards, will be identified as communes in region I and will no longer enjoy the policies applied to communes in regions II and III: including a policy to support the issuance of health insurance cards.

Voters recommend considering a specific roadmap, because in reality, the lives of people in these areas are still very difficult, so stopping the policy of supporting the issuance of health insurance cards has reduced the rate of health insurance coverage, greatly affecting the care and protection of people's health..

The Youth Union of Nghe An Department of Health organized a humanitarian medical examination and treatment program, providing free medicine to people in Thach Son village, Thach Ngan commune, Con Cuong district. Photo: Thanh Chung

Reply:

Implementing the direction of Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh in Official Dispatch No. 3695/VPCP-QHDP date2/6/2021 of the Government Office, the Ethnic Committee has coordinated with relevant ministries, branches and localities to develop an impact assessment report and propose solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of regimes and policies in extremely disadvantaged communes and villages in the period of 2016 - 2020, submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision (in Document No. 1601/TTr-UBDT dated October 20, 2021) and has received direction from the Permanent Deputy Prime Minister in Document No. 7957/VPCP-QHDP dated October 30, 2021 of the Government Office.

Free medical examination and treatment after Covid-19 for people in Thach Ngan commune, Con Cuong district. Photo: Thanh Chung

Accordingly, the Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Health to study and propose amendments to Decree 146/ND-CP dated October 17, 2018 of the Government detailing and guiding measures to implement a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance.

Currently, the Ministry of Health has issued Decision No. 1872/QD-BYT dated July 7, 2022 on the establishment of an editorial team to draft a Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 146./2013/ND-CP dated October 17, 2018 of the Government detailing and guiding measures to implement a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance.

Doctors examine and advise the poor in Que Phong district. Photo: Van Thanh

In addition, the Ministry of Health has completed the first Draft, posted it on the Electronic Information Portal to solicit opinions from relevant stakeholders, including adding Clause 5, Article 4: "Ethnic minorities escape poverty according to Decision No. 861/QD-TTg dated June 4, 2021 of the Prime Minister approving the list of communes in Region III, Region II, areas in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2025".