Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan. Photo: VGP
Information on social welfare work during the 2020-2025 term was presented at the press conference on the organization of the 1st National Congress of the Party Committee of the Government on the morning of October 9th. Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan affirmed that social security policy is a policy for the people and puts the people at the center. This is also the goal and driving force in the entire development process of our country. In the Resolutions of the National Party Congress as well as the Party Congresses at all levels over many terms, social security policy has been considered one of the important focuses to link economic growth with the implementation of social justice.
According to the Minister of Health, over the past five years, in the context of many unprecedented challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters like storms and floods... which have greatly impacted people's lives, social security policies with major pillars such as social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance, and policies related to relief and social assistance... have been given attention and guidance by the Party and the State.
To implement these policies, a series of Party regulations and State laws related to improving the legal framework, enhancing access to healthcare, education, legal aid, housing, ensuring conditions for job loss, and unemployment assistance have been implemented synchronously.
Ms. Dao Hong Lan stated that the Government Party Committee's assessment report, prepared for this Congress, clearly outlined the achievements in each field. Particularly during the 2020-2025 term, the Party, State, and Government consistently upheld the principle of "leaving no one behind." The Central Committee issued Resolution No. 42 on November 24, 2023, on social policies, which was based on a comprehensive set of social policies implemented in previous terms.
Most recently, Resolution No. 71 and Resolution No. 72 relate to education and health policies, outlining breakthrough tasks and solutions to strengthen the implementation of social security policies. These resolutions also emphasize the requirement to put the people at the center of policy implementation by all levels, sectors, ministries, and localities.
Reviewing some notable points, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan stated that, firstly, social security policies contribute to ensuring human rights, improving material and spiritual living standards, and strengthening people's trust.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous policies were implemented, totaling over 120 trillion VND and 200,000 tons of rice, to assist tens of millions of people and businesses in overcoming difficulties. These were accompanied by policies supporting employment and socio-economic recovery and development. Through these efforts, economic recovery and development were ensured, along with provision of employment, social security, and assistance to help people overcome the most challenging periods.
Secondly, over the past five years, the system of policies on social insurance, unemployment insurance, and health insurance has also been strengthened. During this time, the Government has submitted to the National Assembly amendments to the Social Insurance Law and the Health Insurance Law with many new policies to ensure that people and workers have clearer and more complete access to social security benefits.
In addition, a series of support policies are in place to increase participation in health insurance, voluntary social insurance, and social security policies for workers who lose their jobs or face unforeseen circumstances.
Thirdly, the social assistance system has been expanded and has become a crucial social safety net for vulnerable groups. The proportion of people receiving regular assistance has increased, and each year, millions of people receive emergency assistance in the event of natural disasters or epidemics. Social assistance coverage has increased from 2.7% of the population in 2016 to 4.5% in 2025, meaning that approximately 4.5 million people receive regular assistance each year.
"Every year, approximately 1.5 million people receive emergency assistance due to the impact of natural disasters, storms, floods, epidemics, and other catastrophes," Ms. Dao Hong Lan stated. Social welfare policies to assist people affected by natural disasters and storms are very important and have been implemented very comprehensively.
In 2025 and the years prior, the implementation of these social security policies not only involved the State and local authorities but also became a very important cultural aspect and way of life for the people, as they shared and overcame life's difficulties together.
Fourth, poverty reduction efforts have yielded very clear results. Our poverty rate has decreased from 4.4% in 2021 to 1.93% in 2024 and is projected to be around 1% in 2025. Vietnam has also achieved the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, internationally recognized as one of the bright spots in sustainable poverty reduction for implementing social security policies. This is also a very important basis for us to simultaneously implement policies, targeted programs, and solutions to comprehensively implement policies related to social security.
"In the past, we have implemented many measures to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses, but during this term, the work of eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses has been implemented with great focus. Under the direction of the Prime Minister, who is the Head of the Steering Committee, and with the participation of all levels and sectors, the work of eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses has been implemented synchronously nationwide," the Minister of Health emphasized.
According to Ms. Dao Hong Lan, the government has changed its mindset, methods, and implementation approach; establishing steering committees from the central level down to the commune and ward levels. The government and the steering committees hold regular meetings to review and learn from experience. These meetings largely focus on mobilizing resources from savings in the state budget and recurrent expenditures; surplus budget funds are also allocated to the elimination of temporary housing; and the socialization of the program by the business community and the people.
By the time of the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2nd, the whole country had completed the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses 5 years and 4 months ahead of the target set in Resolution 42, with a total of 334,234 houses eliminated at a total cost of nearly 50,000 billion VND.
However, the Steering Committee, as well as the Prime Minister and relevant ministries and agencies, have emphasized the following: Given the unique characteristics of our country, especially in light of natural disasters like storms and floods, eliminating temporary and dilapidated housing is just the initial goal. This will be carried out regularly and continuously to help people in difficult circumstances receive housing support, ensuring their safety and stability in the event of unforeseen circumstances affecting their homes. This task will continue to be implemented according to the Government's directives.
"Over the next five years, these areas will continue to be key priorities, with higher requirements and more practical policies to truly ensure social security for people nationwide," Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan stated.
Source: https://vtv.vn/15-trieu-nguoi-viet-nam-duoc-tro-giup-dot-xuat-do-anh-huong-boi-thien-tai-bao-lu-moi-nam-100251009121707815.htm
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