The list of health insurance drugs will be updated in early 2024.

SGGPO 10/11/2023 11:54

"It is expected that in early 2024, there will be a document updating the drug lists to meet the medical examination and treatment needs of the people," said Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan explains at the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee

Responding to voters' petitions stated in the people's petition report at the 27th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) on the morning of October 11, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan admitted that some petitions were responded to more slowly than required. In the coming time, the Ministry of Health will seriously overcome this and speed up the process of responding to voters' petitions to meet practical requirements and better serve the needs of the people.

Regarding the issue of amending the list of health insurance drugs, the Minister said that Vietnam is one of the countries with a relatively complete and comprehensive list of drugs compared to health insurance premiums.

Session view

“The list of drugs covered by Vietnam’s health insurance is listed in the form of active ingredients and components, without specifying the content, dosage form and trade name. Therefore, the selection of finished drugs paid for by the Health Insurance Fund at medical examination and treatment facilities is not limited by drug types and drug prices, but is based on the disease model for medical facilities to build a list of drugs at the unit, ensuring proactive flexibility for medical facilities,” the head of the Ministry of Health affirmed.

According to the Minister, reviewing and supplementing the drug list is a regular and periodic task. On December 31, 2022, the Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 20 to review and promulgate the lists and payment conditions for drugs, pharmaceutical chemicals, biological products, radioactive drugs, and markers within the scope of health insurance participants. Currently, the Ministry is also directing the Department of Health Insurance to review and update the drug lists to meet the requirements of medical examination and treatment for people. It is expected that in early 2024, there will be an updated document on this issue.

However, updating the drug list also involves assessing safety, as well as the impact on the Health Insurance Fund, so it takes time. "The Ministry is actively coordinating with other ministries and branches to soon review and update this list," Ms. Dao Hong Lan further explained.

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