Why are many cancers not on the 'list of cases that do not require a referral to a final-level hospital'?

There are 62 diseases and groups of diseases that can be treated directly at the final level, without a referral letter, and patients are entitled to 100% health insurance. But why are many other cancers not on this list?

167 bệnh không cần giấy chuyển viện, 62 bệnh được đến thẳng tuyến cuối, hưởng bảo hiểm y tế 100% - Ảnh 1. — Lung cancer develops silently and is easily confused with common respiratory diseases - Illustration: NGUYEN HIEN

The Ministry of Health has just issued a list of some rare diseases, serious diseases, diseases requiring surgery or using high technology that are entitled to 100% health insurance coverage according to the scope, the patient's rights are transferred directly to a specialized medical examination and treatment facility, without having to have a referral letter as previously prescribed.

62 patients can go straight to the final level, no referral needed

Specifically, there are 167 diseases and groups of diseases that are examined and treated at basic medical facilities. Of these, 62 diseases and groups of diseases are examined and treated at specialized medical facilities.

For diseases and groups of diseases in the list, patients do not need a referral letter and are still entitled to 100% of the health insurance benefits as prescribed.

According to the Ministry of Health, this is a particularly meaningful regulation in improving the quality of medical examination and treatment so that patients can access and promptly treat a number of diseases requiring specialized expertise that basic and initial facilities are not qualified to implement.

This helps reduce procedures for transferring medical examination and treatment facilities for patients, reduce costs of moving and transporting patients, and save costs that need to be implemented at lower levels just to transfer patients to higher levels.

At the same time, it aims to reduce household out-of-pocket expenses related to medical examination and treatment, contributing to effective use of health insurance funds.

Why are many cancers not on the list?

After the Ministry of Health issued a list of rare diseases, serious diseases, diseases requiring high-tech treatment, etc., many readers sent Tuoi Tre Online a number of questions.

According to reader Nguyen Anh Dan, "In Vietnam, there are 10 most common types of cancer including liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, prostate cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer and thyroid cancer... But these diseases are not included in the list".

Account nguy****@gmail.com said: "With this list, how can patients differentiate? Only experts know. Are lower-level people willing to provide advice?"

According to the leader of the Legal Department (Ministry of Health), this list was selected based on many criteria. In particular, the disease codes selected to be transferred directly to the specialized level must ensure that the initial facility cannot treat them.

Prescribe the list of diseases, groups of diseases and cases that are initially transferred for management and enjoy benefits on drugs and medical equipment according to the professional instructions of higher technical specialized facilities.

This regulation ensures the rights of patients to be managed, monitored, and to use new, quality drugs and medical equipment, and the grassroots health system has better conditions to develop technical expertise.