Primary health care is "energized" by expanding the use of hundreds of drugs.

To continue improving the quality of medical examination and treatment for people, especially when operating a 2-level local government model and realizing the goals of Resolution 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025 of the Politburo "On a number of breakthrough solutions, strengthening the protection, care and improvement of people's health", the Ministry of Health has drafted a draft to amend Circular 20/2022/TT-BYT on the list and rates, conditions for payment of drugs covered by health insurance (HI) to seek comments from localities and units.

The draft amendment to Circular 20 adds many new drug categories covered by health insurance.

Accordingly, the draft content with many new points proposes to add 81 new drugs, focusing on the treatment groups of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic diseases, antibacterial and antifungal drugs. This group of drugs is proposed to be added in accordance with the treatment needs in practice when the rate of chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease and diabetes is increasing.

Regarding the group of psychotropic drugs, over the years, the number of drugs in this group has been very small, the cost is high, the access to drugs for patients is also difficult, businesses have little investment, while this group of patients is a group of people who are greatly affected and have very low ability to pay. Therefore, in this revision, the Ministry of Health also paid attention to including some drugs.

In particular, many new categories of cancer treatment and active ingredients, including chemicals, targeted drugs, immunomodulators and antidotes for patients after radiotherapy, are also included in the draft.

Many new drugs and chemicals in cancer treatment will be added to the list of health insurance drugs.

Dr. Le Ngoc Thanh - Deputy Director of the Provincial General Hospital said: "Thanks to promoting human resource training along with the support and transfer of upper-level hospitals, the Provincial General Hospital has mastered many specialized and new techniques. In particular, there have been remarkable advances in cancer treatment, especially in the operation and mastery of the high-tech radiotherapy area, contributing to helping people receive effective treatment and reducing the number of referrals. This time, the draft amendment to Circular 20 includes many new types of drugs covered by health insurance, especially in the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular drugs, endocrine drugs, diabetes, etc., which will greatly reduce the financial burden on patients, helping them feel more secure in their treatment."

The draft also proposes to remove about 130 active ingredients/drugs that no longer have circulation registration numbers, are rarely used, and are not rare drugs. Removing drugs that are no longer in circulation helps the list of health insurance drugs to be closer to reality, reducing pressure on medical facilities when organizing bidding. This is a suitable adjustment, ensuring transparent and effective use of the health insurance fund. Hospitals in the province also believe that the streamlined list will help them plan purchases according to their needs, limiting local surpluses and shortages.

Draft to expand the scope of use for 357 drugs to commune level.

One of the contents of the draft amendment that received support from the health sector is the expansion of the scope of use for 357 drugs to the commune level. This allows commune health stations to prescribe and use many types of drugs to treat common diseases that previously had to be referred to higher levels.

Doctor Truong Thi Dieu Thuy - Head of Cam Thanh Medical Station said: "Health insurance drugs play a particularly important role in the initial care and treatment of people. Now, if Circular 20 is amended, bringing to the station many new drugs, especially those related to anti-inflammation, pain relief, infection treatment, cardiovascular drugs, drugs for treating chronic diseases, and chronic disease management, it will contribute to increasing treatment capacity in many aspects of diseases, reducing the number of people having to go to higher levels to get drugs. This is also very consistent with the policy of strengthening capacity for grassroots health care when operating a 2-level government model."

Expanding the scope of use of 357 drugs to the commune level will improve primary health care capacity for grassroots health care.

It is known that in addition to groups of drugs related to anti-inflammation, pain relief, and cardiovascular diseases, some drugs in the cancer group will be brought to the commune health station for palliative care for patients; some drugs related to detoxification will be brought to be dispensed according to prescriptions from higher levels for patients; some other groups of drugs such as neuropsychiatric drugs will also be brought to be managed, dispensed, and served for patients right at the commune.

Ms. Le Thi Cam Thach - Head of Pharmaceutical Affairs Department, Department of Health said: "The Ministry of Health's amendment and supplementation of Circular 20 is consistent with the context of implementing a two-level government, contributing to better ensuring the rights of insurance participants. In the coming time, when the draft is completed and takes effect, the contents in the draft will be implemented to help commune and ward health stations, which are primary medical examination and treatment facilities, be more proactive in treating chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory diseases, dermatology, etc., contributing to reducing the burden on upper-level medical examination facilities. At the same time, improving the capacity of primary health care, helping people in remote and isolated areas access medical services as soon as possible and most effectively. This is an important step in strengthening primary health care in the new context.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/y-te-co-so-duoc-tiep-suc-khi-mo-rong-su-dung-hang-tram-loai-thuoc-post300844.html