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

There are 62 diseases or groups of diseases that allow direct referral to higher-level hospitals without a referral letter, and patients are covered 100% by health insurance. But why are many other types of cancer not included in this list?

Lung cancer develops silently and is easily mistaken for common respiratory illnesses - Illustration: NGUYEN HIEN

The Ministry of Health has just issued a list of rare diseases, life-threatening diseases, and diseases requiring surgery or advanced techniques that are covered 100% by health insurance. Patients are entitled to direct referral to specialized medical facilities without needing a referral letter as previously required.

62 patients were transferred directly to the final hospital without needing a referral letter.

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

For diseases and disease groups on the list, patients do not need a referral letter to receive 100% of their health insurance benefits as stipulated.

According to the Ministry of Health, this regulation is particularly significant in improving the quality of medical examination and treatment, ensuring that patients have timely access to and treatment for certain diseases requiring specialized expertise that basic and primary healthcare facilities are not yet equipped to handle.

This helps to reduce the procedures for transferring patients between medical facilities, lowers patient transportation costs, and saves on expenses that would otherwise be incurred at lower-level facilities just to transfer patients to higher-level ones.

At the same time, it aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for households related to medical examinations and treatment, contributing to the efficient use of health insurance funds.

Why are many types of cancer not included in the list?

Following the Ministry of Health's issuance of a list of rare diseases, life-threatening diseases, and diseases requiring high-tech treatment, many readers have sent questions to Tuoi Tre Online .

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."

The user nguy****@gmail.com commented: "With this list, how can patients possibly differentiate between them? Only professionals would know. Will lower-level healthcare facilities be willing to provide advice?"

According to the head of the Legal Department (Ministry of Health), this list was selected based on several criteria. Among them, the disease codes selected for direct referral to specialized facilities must meet the criterion that the initial treatment facility is unable to treat them.

Regulations specify the list of diseases, disease groups, and cases eligible for initial referral for management and entitlement to benefits regarding medications and medical equipment as prescribed by higher-level specialized technical facilities.

This regulation ensures that patients have the right to receive proper management and monitoring of their illnesses, access to new and high-quality medicines and medical equipment, and provides the primary healthcare system with better conditions for professional and technical development.

List of 62 rare and life-threatening diseases that can be referred directly to specialized hospitals:

List of 62 rare and life-threatening diseases that can be referred directly to specialized hospitals - Graphic: VO TAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-nhieu-benh-ung-thu-khong-thuoc-danh-muc-khong-can-giay-chuyen-vien-tuyen-cuoi-20250102084413902.htm