Effectiveness of health insurance support policy for ethnic minorities

Over the years, health insurance policy has become a solid foundation in the work of caring for and protecting people's health in Nam Hang commune....

Nam Hang commune currently has 13 villages, 5 residential groups with over 11 thousand people, most of whom are Mong, Thai, Kho Mu, Mang ethnic groups. Many years ago, in the highland villages of the commune, people still treated themselves at home, or bought medicine based on word of mouth experience. There were many cases of mild illnesses becoming serious due to lack of timely treatment.

In recent years, with the support of the State in providing free health insurance cards, people's awareness of health care has changed significantly. People proactively go to the Commune Health Station, Nam Nhun Health Center or higher-level hospitals to be examined and treated when they show signs of illness. The health insurance support policy also helps reduce the financial burden on the poor, many cases of serious and chronic diseases are treated promptly; the cost of medical examination and treatment is mostly covered by insurance, helping people feel secure during treatment.

Ms. Lo Thi Huyen in Nam Cay village (Nam Hang commune) said: “In the past, my family members rarely went to the doctor, when they were sick they usually bought medicine to take themselves. Since having the health insurance card, when sick, we only need to go to the commune health station to be examined, prescribed and given medicine by a doctor without any cost, so we are very excited and grateful to the Party and State for caring about the lives of people in the highlands.”

At Nam Hang Commune Health Station, Health Station No. 1 (old Nam Hang Commune), Health Station No. 2 (old Nam Manh Commune) or Nam Nhun Health Center, it is not difficult to see people coming for regular health check-ups, blood pressure checks, or reproductive health consultations. According to staff at Nam Hang Health Station and other stations, the number of people coming for examination and treatment increases every year, demonstrating a clear change in awareness of health care and trust in the grassroots health system.

Thanks to the health insurance support policy, many poor people and policy beneficiaries in Nam Hang commune have received health care and stabilized their lives.

From the implementation practice, the Party Committee and the authorities of Nam Hang commune determined that maintaining a sustainable health insurance coverage rate and improving the quality of health care for the people is an important task, closely linked to social security work. Accordingly, the commune has proposed many specific and synchronous groups of solutions. First of all, it is necessary to promote propaganda and mobilization work, helping people understand the meaning, benefits and responsibilities when participating in health insurance. Village activities, people's meetings, and grassroots radio systems are utilized to bring information about health insurance to each household and target group, especially poor and near-poor households and ethnic minorities in remote areas.

In addition, coordination between the government and social insurance agencies has also been strengthened. Every year, the commune proactively reviews and updates the list of subjects supported by the State budget, ensuring that people's rights to medical examination and treatment are not interrupted. The work of issuing, exchanging and renewing health insurance cards is carried out promptly. Another solution implemented by the authorities is to promote the application of information technology in health insurance management. Connecting medical examination and treatment data, cost assessment, and looking up card information quickly and transparently helps improve service efficiency. The commune also actively promotes and guides people to install and use the VssID application to monitor their participation and enjoyment of health insurance benefits.

Medical facilities are invested in and upgraded step by step. The commune health station currently has a team of doctors, nurses, and midwives to basically meet the needs of primary medical examination and treatment for the people. National health programs such as expanded immunization, reproductive health care, disease prevention, etc. are fully implemented. Community health programs are maintained regularly, thanks to which people have access to more convenient and quality health services.

People are taken care of wholeheartedly and thoughtfully when they come to examine and treat diseases at Nam Hang Commune Health Station.

According to information from the People's Committee of Nam Hang commune, thanks to the synchronous and effective implementation of the health insurance support policy for ethnic minorities, the rate of people participating in health insurance in the commune has reached over 96% of the population. Of which, 100% of poor households and ethnic minorities belonging to near-poor households residing in the commune are granted free health insurance cards; other subjects such as: students, ethnic minorities are granted correct, sufficient and timely cards.

Since the beginning of the year, the medical stations and Nam Nhun Medical Center have received, examined and treated over 9,000 patients, over 90% of whom were examined through health insurance. The health insurance policy has become a "stepping stone" for social security, helping people feel secure in working, producing, developing the economy , contributing to the goal of sustainable poverty reduction and new rural construction.

Mr. Tran Anh Don - Head of the Department of Culture and Society of Nam Hang commune said: "Thanks to the health insurance policy, it has significantly reduced the cost of medical examination and treatment, contributing to stabilizing people's lives and reducing the risk of falling back into poverty due to illness. In the coming time, we will continue to promote propaganda and mobilization to raise people's awareness of universal health care and raise their awareness of voluntarily participating in family health insurance. Closely coordinate with grassroots social insurance in reviewing, issuing and renewing health insurance cards for the right beneficiaries of state budget support. Continue to propose policies to competent authorities on improving the quality of medical examination and treatment at the grassroots level, creating trust for people when coming to see a doctor or get treatment".

Looking back on the past, it can be affirmed that the health insurance support policy has truly entered life, helping people in the highlands feel secure in doing business and building an increasingly prosperous and happy life.

Source: https://baolaichau.vn/xa-hoi/hieu-qua-chinh-sach-ho-tro-bao-hiem-y-te-cho-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-1012970