Ensuring health insurance benefits for people in Con Dao special zone

In response to the feedback from voters in Ho Chi Minh City about the impact of the merger and abolition of the district level on the health system of Con Dao special economic zone and what policies will be issued to ensure the maintenance of medical staff, facilities, resources and especially the health insurance benefits of the people are not interrupted or disadvantaged after the merger, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan has responded in writing on this issue.

Doctor examines people in Con Dao special zone

According to Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, the merger and cessation of district-level operations is part of the Party and State's policy on administrative unit arrangement according to Resolution No. 37-NQ/TW dated December 24, 2018 on the arrangement of district- and commune-level administrative units. Conclusions No. 127-KL/TW dated February 28, 2025, 157-KL/TW dated May 25, 2025 and 160-KL/TW dated May 31, 2025 of the Politburo in 2025 all clearly affirm that the arrangement of administrative organizations does not interrupt the provision of essential public services, especially health and education.

To implement the unified model, the Government issued Resolution No. 74/NQ-CP dated April 7, 2025 on reorganizing local governments according to the two-level model. On that basis, the Ministry of Health issued Official Dispatch No. 2147/BYT-TCCB dated April 12, 2025 guiding the orientation of arranging and reorganizing medical facilities at administrative units at all levels, implementing the two-level local government organization model. The general principle is not to eliminate or disrupt the existing grassroots health system, but to reorganize it in accordance with the new government model, ensuring that people continue to have fair and convenient access to health services.

On June 23, 2025, the Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 20/2025/TT-BYT guiding the functions, tasks and powers of specialized health agencies under the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities and People's Committees of communes, wards and special zones under provinces and centrally run cities. This Circular is an important basis for providing specific guidance on maintaining and strengthening the district-level health system during the process of merging and rearranging administrative units, contributing to ensuring stable professional activities and health care rights of the people.

Regarding resource assurance , the Ministry of Health is implementing the Project to improve the grassroots health network for the period 2025-2030, including the content of maintaining the payroll and stabilizing the team of doctors and medical staff in specific areas, combined with policies to attract and retain human resources such as Decree No. 76/2019/ND-CP dated October 8, 2019 on policies for cadres, civil servants, public employees, workers and salaried people in the armed forces working in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, and Project 585 (issued with Decision No. 585/QD-BYT dated February 20, 2013) on sending young volunteer doctors to work in remote areas and island districts.

Investment in facilities and equipment continues to be implemented according to the medium-term investment plan, not affected by the administrative merger.

Delegation of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health visited and worked in Con Dao special zone

Regarding health insurance benefits of the people , according to the provisions of Clause 1 and Clause 3, Article 22 of the Law on Health Insurance 2008, amended and supplemented by Law No. 51/2024/QH15: it is stipulated that people with health insurance cards are still entitled to full benefits at the correct level when going to the new place of medical examination and treatment due to a change of residence or a change of administrative unit (effective from July 1, 2025). People are still entitled to medical examination and treatment at the original place of registration, or are transferred to the next level according to regulations. The Ministry of Health is coordinating with the Vietnam Social Security to update the list of medical examination and treatment facilities in the data system, ensuring that people do not have their benefits interrupted due to changes in administrative boundaries.

For specific areas such as Con Dao, local authorities can continue to propose specific mechanisms to ensure human resources, financial conditions and health infrastructure. Policies to support health insurance premiums will also continue to be implemented according to the provisions of Decree No. 146/2018/ND-CP dated October 17, 2018 and related guiding documents. The Ministry of Health will continue to closely coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to monitor, guide and ensure that administrative arrangements do not negatively affect the health system, contributing to stabilizing people's lives and ensuring fairness in health care for all people.

THANH SON

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dam-bao-quyen-loi-bao-hiem-y-te-cua-nguoi-dan-dac-khu-con-dao-post804816.html