Health insurance coverage for traditional medicine treatments is still too low.

Health insurance coverage for traditional medicine treatments remains too low. By 2025, health insurance spending on traditional medicine will only account for 5.42% (equivalent to 3,160 billion VND) of the total amount of medicines covered by health insurance.

On the afternoon of May 29th, at the workshop on improving the quality and effectiveness of health insurance coverage for traditional medicine and pharmaceuticals organized by the Ministry of Health , Ms. Tran Thi Trang - Director of the Health Insurance Department (Ministry of Health) stated that currently, the amount of traditional medicine covered by health insurance is still quite small compared to modern medicines.

Specifically, while modern medicine includes 1037 active ingredients and 59 radioactive substances, traditional medicine only has 229 groups of traditional medicines and herbal remedies, and 349 processed herbal ingredients (traditional medicinal ingredients).

In 2025, the cost of traditional medicine covered by health insurance will only account for 5.42% (equivalent to VND 3,160 billion) of the total cost of medicines reimbursed by health insurance. In 2023 and 2024, this figure also fluctuated around 5.2-5.6%.

Ms. Tran Thi Trang, Director of the Health Insurance Department (Ministry of Health ), stated that currently, the amount of traditional medicine covered by health insurance is still quite small compared to modern medicines. (Photo: Ministry of Health)

In addition, there are still many difficulties in reimbursing health insurance for traditional medicine treatments, such as the fact that medicinal herbs have many different names (sour apple/jujube pulp, Euryale ferox/water lily root, etc.), which makes it difficult to determine the scope of health insurance coverage.

Many drugs are licensed for circulation in both chemical and herbal forms. Acupuncture techniques in Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment do not yet have regulations regarding injection routes, including injections into acupuncture points.

Notes from the Social Insurance agency for pension and benefit recipients.

The list of Traditional Chinese Medicine drugs, issued since 2015, has not been supplemented or updated. Based on proposals from relevant organizations, units, and businesses regarding the addition of new drugs to the list, 94 drugs and 5 types of medicinal herbs have been proposed for inclusion.

"Currently, we are reviewing each file specifically according to principles and criteria to compile and organize expert council meetings to consider and provide advice on the safety, effectiveness, and cost of treatment of the drugs, as a basis for reporting to the Ministry's leadership to issue a Circular supplementing and updating the list of Traditional Medicine drugs covered by health insurance for participants, within their authority."

Updating the list of traditional medicine drugs and medicinal herbs covered by health insurance aims to gradually increase the proportion of traditional medicine drugs used and reimbursed by health insurance.

Priority is given to new herbal medicines, traditional medicines, and medicinal herbs and ingredients in modern, standardized formulations prepared using modern methods (single-component herbal extraction by spray drying/fluidized bed drying) that are standardized and subject to strict quality control, allowing for more accurate dosage measurement.

"We have a development strategy, invest in the production of high-standard traditional medicine, and conduct effective clinical trials to meet treatment needs," Ms. Trang shared.

Leaders of the Ministry of Health visit patients receiving inpatient treatment at the Military Traditional Medicine Institute. (Photo: Ministry of Health)

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha stated that over the years, the network of traditional medicine clinics and hospitals has been gradually strengthened. Currently, the country has 5 traditional medicine hospitals under the Ministry and other ministries and sectors; 61 provincial-level traditional medicine hospitals and 10 private traditional medicine hospitals. By 2025, the proportion of traditional medicine clinics and hospitals is expected to reach approximately 3.3% of the total number of medical examinations and treatments, equivalent to about 7 million visits.

At the conference, the Deputy Minister requested a comprehensive assessment of the current state of the health insurance system and its organization in the field of Traditional Medicine; clarifying the achievements, difficulties, obstacles, and requirements for the current period.

Additionally, the proposal suggests solutions to improve the professional quality, service quality, and efficiency of using the Health Insurance Fund for traditional medicine examinations and treatments; strengthen the integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine, ensuring patients have access to safer, more effective, and more convenient services.

Source: https://danviet.vn/chi-phi-bhyt-cho-kham-chua-benh-y-hoc-co-truyen-con-qua-thap-d1430723.html