Implementing universal health insurance in the new phase

People complete health insurance examination and treatment procedures at Tan Trieu K Hospital. (Photo: KHÁNH AN)

In order to realize the goal of universal health insurance and in accordance with the two-level local government model, on October 3, the Secretariat issued Directive No. 52-CT/TW on implementing universal health insurance in the new period.

On September 7, 2009, the Secretariat issued Directive No. 38-CT/TW on “Promoting Health Insurance in the new situation” to achieve the goals of protecting, caring for and improving people's health. Accordingly, the Health Insurance coverage rate increased from 58% (in 2009) to 94.26% (in 2024), equivalent to about 95.5 million people.

At the same time, the number of people with health insurance cards going for medical examination and treatment increased from 88.6 million (in 2009) to 183.6 million (in 2024). The benefits of medical examination and treatment of health insurance participants are also increasingly expanded when the list of drugs, medical equipment, and technical services are used according to professional capacity. According to data from the Social Insurance agency, as of September 2025, the cumulative number of health insurance examination and treatment reached 143.8 million times, with the amount of health insurance expenditure being 119,283 billion VND...

According to Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha, in the 2 years (2023-2024) as well as during the implementation of Directive No. 38-CT/TW, the Government , ministries, branches and localities have led, directed and organized the basic and complete implementation of tasks, targets and legal policies on Health Insurance; in which, a number of tasks and targets have been completed beyond expectations.

By the end of 2024, nationwide, there will be 13,395 facilities that have signed contracts for health insurance examination and treatment; of which, there are 1,793 public facilities and more than 10,390 commune and ward health stations. In addition, there are also 1,212 private health facilities that have also participated extensively in health insurance examination and treatment, contributing to reducing the overload situation at public hospitals.

Director of the Department of Health Insurance ( Ministry of Health ) Tran Thi Trang added: In the first 9 months of 2025, this unit has thoroughly grasped and seriously and effectively implemented the Party's Resolutions, conclusions and directions of the Politburo, the Secretariat, and Resolutions of the National Assembly...

Regarding decentralization and delegation of power according to the 2-level local government model, the Department of Health Insurance has advised and guided the creation of favorable conditions for transferring a number of documents and procedures to health insurance examination and treatment facilities when implementing 2-level local government to ensure timely progress, smoothness, and not affecting the rights of health insurance participants.

Although the rate of people participating in health insurance has increased rapidly in recent years, there are still more than 5% of the population who have not participated in health insurance. The number of people who have not participated is mainly from groups with limited economic conditions, family dependents, and workers without stable jobs.

In addition, the implementation of Directive No. 38-CT/TW also revealed a number of shortcomings and limitations, such as some Party committees, Party organizations and authorities have not paid due attention to leadership, direction, inspection, supervision and resolution of problems; propaganda and mobilization work in some places is still formal and ineffective; mechanisms and policies are not yet consistent; health insurance appraisal and payment of medical examination and treatment costs are still problematic; the quality of health insurance medical examination and treatment at grassroots health facilities and in remote, isolated and particularly difficult areas has not met requirements...

To achieve the goal of universal health insurance, the Secretariat issued Directive No. 52-CT/TW on implementing universal health insurance in the new period to overcome the shortcomings of Directive No. 38-CT/TW and make appropriate adjustments for the two-level local government model. Directive No. 52-CT/TW has set out the orientation, tasks and key solutions to effectively achieve the goal of universal health insurance. In the spirit of Directive No. 52-CT/TW, by 2026, the health insurance coverage rate must reach more than 95% of the population and aim to cover the entire population by 2030.

Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha also said: The Ministry of Health will calculate fundamentally, scientifically, practically, in accordance with the provisions of law in coordination with ministries, sectors, branches, health departments of 34 provinces and cities to promote administrative procedure reform, apply information technology, avoid backlog, and settle medical examination and treatment costs of Health Insurance. Coordinate with relevant units to develop norms for pilot payment of medical examination and treatment costs of Health Insurance in the new form based on electronic medical records. Along with that, continue to perfect the legal corridor to resolve difficulties and problems of medical examination and treatment facilities regarding payment of Health Insurance...

THANH MAI

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thuc-hien-bao-hiem-y-te-toan-dan-trong-giai-doan-moi-post920960.html