National Assembly delegates propose that people with serious illnesses and cancer should enjoy 100% health insurance.

Reducing the financial burden for people in difficult circumstances with serious illnesses and creating conditions for cancer patients to access good medicine for treatment is an issue of concern to many National Assembly deputies.

One of the issues that received much attention from delegates at the discussion session on the Draft Resolution of the National Assembly on a number of breakthrough mechanisms and policies for the protection, care and improvement of people's health in the Hall on the morning of December 2 was how to reduce the burden of treatment costs for people with serious illnesses, create conditions for those without economic conditions to access good medicine sources, and have the opportunity to prolong their lives.

Regarding this issue, delegate Le Thi Ngoc Linh (National Assembly delegation of Ca Mau province) proposed that it is necessary to study and supplement regulations so that people in difficult circumstances with serious illnesses, especially cancer, can enjoy 100% health insurance.

According to the delegates, people with serious illnesses and cancer face complicated, prolonged treatment and huge costs. Therefore, expanding the criteria for disadvantaged groups beyond the standard "poor and near-poor households" is to ensure equitable access to health care and implement the policy of "leaving no one behind".

Delegate Le Thi Ngoc Linh (National Assembly delegation of Ca Mau province) speaks. Photo: National Assembly

Sharing the same view, delegate Trinh Thi Tu Anh (National Assembly delegation of Lam Dong province) said that voters reflected that the burden of treatment costs is still the biggest barrier for patients. Many new generation drugs such as targeted therapy drugs and immunotherapy drugs have proven to be highly effective in treatment, helping to prolong life and improve quality of life. However, high costs prevent patients from accessing optimal treatment.

Statistics show that medicine costs always account for the highest proportion in the structure of medical examination and treatment costs, about 33%, although they have decreased from 40 to 50% compared to previous years. Therefore, delegates recommended that the drug list should be updated promptly, especially for cancer treatment drugs and new generation immunomodulators to reduce out-of-pocket costs for people , ensuring the rights of more than 95.5 million people participating in health insurance today.

Delegates attending the discussion session. Photo: National Assembly

"I think that priority should be given to drugs with strong clinical evidence and clearly proven effectiveness. The list should be updated flexibly to keep up with the progress of international medicine. At the same time, the expansion of the list should be linked to a cost-effectiveness assessment mechanism to ensure that payments are both fundamental and sustainable. This is a direct and practical solution so that patients, especially those with serious illnesses and those with difficult family circumstances, are not left behind in the treatment journey," the delegate said.

Consider universal health insurance as a "pillar" of social security

To better care for people's health, in accordance with the spirit of Resolution 72 of the Politburo and the Resolution of the National Assembly, delegate Thach Phuoc Binh (National Assembly delegation of Vinh Long province) proposed to consider the State's policy of issuing health insurance cards to all people as a "pillar" of the policy of ensuring national health security .

The delegate said that in reality, the current rate of "out-of-pocket" spending by households is still very high (43%), along with the shortage of medicine and supplies at the grassroots level, the issuance of universal health insurance cards is an inevitable step towards a fair, modern and civilized health system.

Delegate Thach Phuoc Binh, National Assembly Delegation of Vinh Long province, speaks. Photo: National Assembly

According to delegate Thach Phuoc Binh, issuing health insurance cards to all people does not mean that the State pays for all people, but ensures that 100% of people have cards. Specifically, the delegate proposed that the contribution, support, and co-payment rates will be divided according to the target groups: vulnerable groups (State pays 100%); low-income/informal workers (State supports part); and high-income groups (mandatory participation and self-payment, can enjoy tax incentives).

The delegate emphasized that, to implement the universal health insurance project as proposed, it is necessary to simultaneously implement three prerequisites, which are: Perfecting the grassroots health system; strongly reforming the procurement bidding system to ensure that there is no shortage of drugs or supplies when expanding health insurance benefits; building national health data standards, promoting digital transformation to manage costs, prevent fund abuse and ensure transparency.

Speaking to receive and explain the opinions of delegates at the discussion session, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that regarding the proposals on expanding the rights to periodic health check-ups and screening for the entire population, there have been appropriate adjustments. Many contents related to disease prevention, including periodic health check-ups and screening, have been collected and included in the draft Law on Disease Prevention. This is the highest legal basis, long-term to overcome difficulties after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan received and explained the opinions contributed by delegates at the discussion session.

Issues regarding subjects, roadmap and specific implementation will be guided by the Government through Decrees and Circulars after the law is passed, ensuring flexibility when practical conditions and resources change, avoiding the need to amend laws or resolutions many times.

Regarding the proposals related to the Health Insurance Fund and the universal health insurance policy, the Minister of Health said that this content is related to the ability to balance the fund, and will be absorbed and partially reflected in the Resolution. At the same time, it will continue to improve in the process of amending legal regulations related to health insurance policy.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/dai-bieu-quoc-hoi-de-xuat-nguoi-mac-benh-hiem-ngheo-bi-ung-thu-duoc-huong-bao-hiem-y-te-100-238251202180653263.htm