Patients will have less need to travel long distances as hundreds of types of medicine are about to arrive at commune health stations.

SKĐS - Policies on medicine and health insurance are undergoing many positive adjustments for patients. New generation drugs are being licensed, the list of drugs covered by health insurance is being expanded, and some cancer drugs are expected to be available at commune health stations.

Expanding health insurance benefits and enhancing the role of grassroots healthcare.

In the final months of 2025, patients received a series of positive signals from healthcare policies. The Ministry of Health recently drafted amendments to Circular 20/2022/TT-BYT on the list, rates, and conditions for payment of drugs covered by health insurance, and is currently seeking feedback from localities and relevant units.

The drugs added to the list of those covered by health insurance this time include many new medications. This is especially true for cancer patients, who have high treatment costs.

According to the draft, 81 new drugs are proposed for addition, focusing on the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic diseases; and antibacterial and antifungal drugs. Notably, the list of cancer drugs is expanded with many new active ingredients, including chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunomodulators, and antitoxins to support patients after radiotherapy.

This draft not only expands the list of drugs but is also seen as a significant adjustment in the organization of treatment at the grassroots level. Approximately 457 types of drugs are proposed to have their use expanded to the commune-level health facilities, an unprecedented number.

Accordingly, commune health stations will be able to prescribe and use more medications to treat common diseases that previously required referral to higher-level facilities. Besides anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and cardiovascular drugs, some cancer medications are expected to be brought to commune health stations for palliative care. In addition, some detoxification drugs will be dispensed at the commune level based on prescriptions from higher-level facilities; and medications for mental and neurological disorders will also be managed and dispensed to meet the regular treatment needs of the local population.

The benefits for those participating in health insurance are constantly expanding.

According to the Ministry of Health, this policy aims to help people receive treatment right where they live, reducing pressure on higher-level facilities, limiting unnecessary referrals, and saving travel costs, especially for people in rural and mountainous areas.

Expectations from patients and primary healthcare

At Nghe An Pharmaceutical and Medical Supplies Joint Stock Company, dozens of cancer patients and their families come every day to complete the procedures for purchasing painkillers. Many of them have to travel hundreds of kilometers and go through numerous confirmation procedures from medical facilities before receiving their medication.

Mr. Truoc Dac Hieu, residing in Quynh Phu commune, said that every month he has to get a confirmation letter from the health station, then go to the hospital to buy medicine. "The road is long and the journey is very difficult. If medicine is distributed directly to the commune in the future, patients will suffer much less," Mr. Hieu said.

Distributing medicine to people in Mon Son mountainous commune.

Ms. Phan Thi Thuan, residing in Hung Nguyen Bac commune, said that bringing medicine to the commune's health station will help elderly people and those with chronic diseases avoid having to travel long distances. "Just having medicine right at the health station makes people very happy. They don't have to go to the district or province, which is both expensive and tiring," Ms. Thuan said happily.

According to Mr. Thai Huy Dai, a resident of Hung Nguyen commune, many people in the commune suffer from cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases, requiring long-term treatment. "Hearing that more medications are covered by insurance at the commune level, the people are very hopeful. Traveling far is both expensive and tiring, while many families are still facing financial difficulties," Mr. Dai said.

Dr. Le Huu Nam, Deputy Director of Hung Nguyen District Health Center, believes this is a necessary step to reduce pressure on higher-level facilities. "Currently, many types of medication require patients to go through lengthy procedures from the commune level to the district level, or even to higher-level facilities. If the Circular is implemented, people will save a lot of time and money, and the capacity of commune health stations will also be significantly improved," said Dr. Le Huu Nam.

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According to pharmacist Tran Minh Tue, Deputy Director of the Nghe An Department of Health, the amendment and supplementation of Circular 20 is consistent with the context of implementing the two-tiered local government model, and at the same time realizes the goals of Resolution 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025, of the Politburo on protecting, caring for, and improving the health of the people.

"Once the Circular comes into effect, the health sector will provide specific guidance to commune health stations, while strengthening human resource training, improving professional capacity, and expanding technical services to manage and treat chronic diseases, respiratory diseases, dermatological diseases, and cancer, ensuring the safe and effective use of medicines," Mr. Tue said.

According to the plan, the Circular will be issued in January 2026 and will take effect at the end of the first quarter of 2026. For patients, especially cancer patients, having more medication available directly at commune health stations will not only help reduce costs but also lessen the long and arduous journeys in their treatment.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/nguoi-benh-bot-canh-di-xa-khi-hang-tram-loai-thuoc-sap-ve-tram-y-te-xa-169251216091214126.htm