Circular No. 22/2024/TT-BYT clearly stipulates the conditions, scope and procedures for direct payment, so that patients' rights are protected in force majeure situations - Photo: VGP/HM
Specifically, Can Tho voters sent their opinions before the 9th session of the 15th National Assembly, reflecting that health insurance examination and treatment facilities still lack medicine and medical supplies, forcing people to buy outside and not being paid for health insurance. This affects the propaganda work to mobilize people to participate in voluntary health insurance.
Responding to this issue, Minister Dao Hong Lan admitted that recently, the Ministry of Health has received feedback from a number of localities and people about the shortage of drugs and medical supplies at a number of medical examination and treatment facilities, affecting the rights of patients participating in health insurance.
The main reason comes from difficulties in bidding and centralized procurement, especially in the process of converting regulations and implementing new instructions under Bidding Law No. 22/2023/QH15 and Decree No. 24/2024/ND-CP.
In addition, delays in approval of lists, estimates, changes in technical instructions or temporary shortages of supply from manufacturers also affect the ability to continuously supply drugs and medical supplies.
The Minister said that the Ministry of Health has been and will continue to closely coordinate with localities, Vietnam Social Security and relevant units to remove difficulties, speed up procurement progress, ensure the supply of medicines, equipment and medical supplies for medical examination and treatment, especially health insurance examination and treatment.
Also according to the Minister, on November 27, 2024, the National Assembly passed the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance, including regulations on the transfer of drugs and medical equipment between medical examination and treatment facilities when drugs and medical equipment are not available and cannot be replaced.
After the Law comes into effect, along with other regulations and solutions, the situation of patients having to buy medicine and medical equipment themselves will be basically resolved, ensuring the rights of health insurance participants.
In addition, to ensure health insurance benefits in cases where patients have to pay by themselves because medical facilities cannot provide medicines and medical equipment, the Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 22/2024/TT-BYT dated October 18, 2024 regulating the direct payment of medicine and medical equipment costs for people with health insurance cards who go for medical examination and treatment.
This Circular clearly stipulates the conditions, scope and procedures for direct payment, creating a legal basis for patients to have their rights protected in force majeure situations, limiting the need for people to pay costs outside the scope of health insurance without being reimbursed.
Hien Minh
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/kham-chua-benh-bhyt-viec-nguoi-benh-phai-tu-mua-thuoc-se-co-ban-duoc-khac-phuc-102250730165350437.htm
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