The Ministry of Health builds a basic health service package within the scope of free hospitalisation.

The free hospital policy is an urgent need to reduce the financial burden on people. The Ministry of Health is building a basic health service package to ensure everyone's rights. Let's learn more about the free hospital roadmap in this article.

On the afternoon of December 1, the Ministry of Health held a workshop to seek opinions on the direction of developing a project to gradually implement the policy of free hospital fees according to Resolution No. 72 of the Politburo. This is the first time the Ministry of Health has sought opinions from experts, aiming to realize the policy of regular medical examination and free hospital fees for all people.

Hospital fee exemption policy: Reduce the cost burden for people, especially the poor, increase equity in access to health services

Speaking at the workshop, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha emphasized that in recent years, Vietnam has achieved many important achievements in the field of health care.

By 2024, Vietnam's health insurance coverage rate will reach 94.29% of the population, the medical examination and treatment network will be widespread down to the commune level, the professional capacity of the specialized, basic and initial levels will be significantly improved, the list of drugs and medical equipment within the scope and benefits of patients with health insurance cards will be increasingly expanded.

Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha emphasized: The policy of gradually moving towards free hospital fees is an objective and urgent requirement, both demonstrating the good nature of Vietnam's social policy system and ensuring the people's right to health care.

However, according to Permanent Deputy Minister Vu Manh Ha, in addition to achievements, we also face major challenges, which are people's out-of-pocket spending, estimated at over 40% of medical examination and treatment costs, still at a high level according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization; The risk of impoverishment due to illness still exists, especially for the poor, vulnerable groups, people with chronic diseases or long-term treatment.

At the same time, financial pressure on households will increase if there are no strong solutions from public policy.

"Therefore, the policy of gradually moving towards free hospital fees is an objective and urgent requirement, both demonstrating the good nature of Vietnam's social policy system and ensuring the people's right to health care," said Permanent Deputy Minister Vu Manh Ha.

According to Permanent Deputy Minister Vu Manh Ha, the free hospital policy is not only a financial solution for healthcare, but also has profound social and humanitarian significance: Reducing the cost burden for people, especially the poor and vulnerable groups; increasing equity in access to healthcare services, ensuring "no one is left behind"; improving the quality of healthcare, because when financial barriers are removed, patients will be examined and treated sooner and more effectively; promoting the sustainable improvement of the healthcare system, reducing the risk of people delaying or abandoning treatment due to costs.

Permanent Deputy Minister Vu Manh Ha also said that in the world, many countries applying free healthcare policies or universal health insurance have achieved positive results: reducing the rate of medical-related poverty, increasing access to services, effectively controlling diseases and reducing late treatment costs.

"These are experiences worth referring to for Vietnam to build a model suitable to development conditions, resources and structure of the domestic healthcare system," said Deputy Minister Vu Manh Ha.

This policy must still be based on the pillar of health insurance, with support from the state budget, and implemented on a roadmap. The state budget and health insurance fund will cover basic and essential medical expenses, minimizing the financial burden on people - first of all for social policy beneficiaries, the disadvantaged, low-income people and some other priority groups.

For medical services on demand, exceeding the basic level, patients still have to pay a part to raise awareness of using services reasonably and saving costs.

Conference scene.

The policy of free hospital fees must therefore be closely linked to universal health insurance coverage, with everyone participating in health insurance to share risks, with those with conditions taking care of the poor, the healthy helping the weak; along with support from the state budget and socialized resources so that patients do not have to pay extra costs when they are unfortunately sick.

The Ministry of Health expects the workshop to unify awareness and orientation on the goals, scope, objects, roadmap as well as key contents of the project, ensuring consistency, feasibility and suitability with reality.

Develop specific basic health service packages to implement according to the roadmap.

Speaking at the workshop, Ms. Tran Thi Trang - Director of the Health Insurance Department (Ministry of Health) stated that the current burden of medical costs is very large, with an estimated 40% of the costs paid by people themselves. The total amount of unpaid health insurance funds is estimated at about 24,800 billion VND/year.

The health insurance contribution rate is still low, at 4.5% of the salary/reference level used as the basis for payment. Regarding the scope of the "free hospital fee" policy, Ms. Trang said the goal is to cover all people with health insurance, while gradually reducing and moving towards waiving the co-payment rate.

"Regarding the free basic health care service package, we will define the free basic health care service package including a list of services, diseases, drugs, and medical equipment. Cover common diseases, prioritize necessary diseases first, gradually expand the scope according to professional requirements suitable to the capacity of the State budget, Health Insurance Fund, and combine with social mobilization. At the same time, build a maximum cost for one medical examination and treatment" - Ms. Trang said.

Specifically, the average cost of inpatient/outpatient medical examination and treatment nationwide is adjusted annually or periodically, except for some diseases and techniques with high costs; In the immediate future, it is expected to be applied at primary and basic medical examination and treatment facilities, public and private medical examination and treatment facilities.

"The implementation will follow a roadmap, prioritize subjects, and be suitable to the contribution level, the balancing capacity of the Health Insurance Fund, and socio-economic conditions in each period," Ms. Trang stated.

Ms. Tran Thi Trang - Director of Health Insurance Department spoke.

Regarding the source of funding, Ms. Trang said that it will be based on the budget health insurance pillars, disease prevention fund, and social mobilization. In particular, it is expected to increase budget expenditure and increase health insurance contributions according to the 2027-2030 roadmap, with the State budget supporting health insurance contributions for priority subjects.

Use the Disease Prevention Fund. At the same time, diversify financial sources such as supplementary health insurance, commercial health insurance, patient support programs; new financial sources from taxes on products affecting health.

According to this proposal, the 2026-2026 period will focus on increasing the rate and payment level. From 2026, people will be given periodic health check-ups or free screening at least once a year according to priority groups and roadmaps; organize coordination between periodic health check-ups, free screening, health check-ups for students, occupational health check-ups, health check-ups for workers according to regulations and health insurance examination and treatment to provide free medical examinations and complete the creation of electronic health books for all people.

Priority groups from 2026, health insurance participants are those from near-poor households, elderly people aged 75 and over who are receiving social pension benefits will be entitled to 100% coverage of medical examination and treatment costs within the scope of health insurance benefits. Increase the rate and level of health insurance payment for drugs, medical equipment, and technical services.

At the same time, increase the health insurance contribution rate from 2027 (about 5.1%), budget contribution, and support contribution for social policy beneficiaries.

By the period 2028 - 2030, the target is to reduce out-of-pocket spending to ≤30%. Continue to increase the rate and level of health insurance payments for drugs, medical equipment, and technical services; pilot screening for 2-3 cost-effective diseases; pay from the health insurance fund for disease prevention services; increase health insurance coverage to over 95% of the population; increase health insurance contributions from 2030 to 5.4% and pilot supplementary health insurance, diversify health insurance packages, etc. After 2030, health insurance coverage will be universal, and screening for 3-5 cost-effective diseases will be expanded.

Free hospitalisation for all people within the scope of basic service packages, expanded according to roadmap and resources; increase health insurance contribution rate from 2032 to 6%. Complete the grassroots health care network and smart, multi-layered, multi-benefit health insurance payment system.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/bo-y-te-xay-dung-goi-dich-vu-y-te-co-ban-thuoc-pham-vi-mien-vien-phi-169251201164049327.htm