Scientific seminar "Enhancing the grasp and orientation of public opinion in implementing health sector policies"

NDO - On the morning of November 12th, in Hanoi, the Institute of Public Opinion and the Social Affairs Department of the Central Propaganda Department, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, jointly organized a seminar on "Improving the quality of monitoring and guiding public opinion, contributing to the effective implementation of health sector policies".

Over 20 presentations and direct speeches from leaders of the Institute of Public Opinion, the Social Affairs Department - Central Propaganda Department, and the Ministry of Health , along with experts and collaborators in public opinion at the central and Hanoi levels, focused on clarifying several issues regarding methods of understanding, guiding, and the current state of public opinion on the health sector; and simultaneously proposed many practical recommendations to improve the quality of understanding and guiding public opinion, contributing to the effective implementation of health sector policies...

Over the past period, public opinion has been in agreement with the humane and compassionate health insurance policy of our Party and State, and has also been proud of and highly appreciated the achievements, efforts, and sense of responsibility of the leadership, doctors, and staff of the health sector in organizing medical examinations, treatment, primary and specialized healthcare, gradually overcoming limitations and shortcomings and rectifying negative manifestations.

By the end of 2023, the nationwide health insurance coverage rate had reached 93.35%, with over 93 million participants. Of these, the State paid for and subsidized health insurance for 15 categories, ranging from those who contributed to the revolution, policy beneficiary families, poor households, cadres, civil servants, and public employees to children under 6 years old. Various levels of government, sectors, and organizations have promoted and encouraged health insurance contributions and provided health insurance cards to the remaining eligible individuals.

Simultaneously, over 150 million people received medical examinations and treatments covered by health insurance, with the fund paying out more than 100 trillion VND. The well-organized health insurance system, from the central to local levels, including both public and private medical facilities, has facilitated people's access to and use of health insurance-covered medical services.

Health insurance policies have contributed to reducing direct household spending on healthcare services, creating equity in healthcare, especially for vulnerable groups in society such as the poor, near-poor, people with disabilities, those receiving social assistance, and children under 6 years old. In many cases, the Health Insurance Fund has covered medical examination and treatment costs amounting to billions of VND annually.

However, public opinion remains concerned about several issues related to health insurance, such as the procedures for medical examinations and treatment under health insurance; the cost and quality of medical services; the issue of health insurance fraud; and the sale or falsification of documents related to social insurance and health insurance.

Understanding and guiding public opinion is a crucial information channel that helps Party committees and authorities promptly implement specific measures in leading and directing the construction and organization of political tasks at the local level and within their respective units; it also helps guide public opinion and create high levels of consensus among all segments of the population regarding policies and guidelines in various aspects of social life.

To enhance public opinion and guide public sentiment in order to improve the effectiveness of health insurance policy implementation in the future, delegates proposed: Strengthening surveys, gathering and understanding public opinion and the aspirations of the people through various channels; widely disseminating information about the rights and obligations of health insurance participants; and promoting the role and responsibility of all levels, sectors, organizations, agencies, and units in disseminating information, mobilizing support, and assisting everyone to participate in health insurance.

The health sector continues to innovate in thinking and working methods, overcoming existing shortcomings and inadequacies; focusing on building and developing the grassroots health care network and improving the quality of medical examination and treatment under health insurance in the spirit that all citizens receive regular and continuous health monitoring and care, and are provided with information about the quality of health insurance medical facilities to exercise their right to choose; widely implementing biometric information verification on chip-embedded citizen identity cards in health insurance medical examination and treatment.

In particular, it is necessary to strengthen the leadership of Party committees at all levels in the work of monitoring and guiding public opinion; innovate the content and methods to improve the quality and effectiveness of public opinion work in the spirit of closely adhering to the realities of social life, focusing on the grassroots, and targeting specific groups in conjunction with events and political tasks of the locality and unit.

At the same time, continue to improve the network of public opinion collaborators in the health sector in particular and in agencies and units in general, ensuring they have strong professional skills and expertise; maintain effective hotlines and suggestion boxes to promptly detect and report cases where agencies, units, and businesses have not properly implemented health insurance and social insurance policies; and understand public opinion regarding the medical examination and treatment work of medical facilities for the people (medical examination and treatment procedures; health insurance coverage; improving the sense of responsibility and medical ethics of doctors, nurses, and medical staff...).

Public opinion is a mirror reflecting the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws; it reflects the thoughts and aspirations of the people regarding the Party's policies and the State's laws. Proactively grasping public opinion will help Party committees and the government formulate policies and decisions that are in accordance with regulations and in line with the people's will, promptly resolve emerging issues, ensure political stability and social order, and effectively combat the subversive tactics of hostile forces.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/toa-dam-khoa-hoc-tang-cuong-nam-bat-dinh-huong-du-luan-xa-hoi-trong-trien-khai-chinh-sach-nganh-y-te-post844479.html