Launching Workshop ” Strengthening the Policy and Institutional Framework of Social Health Insurance in Vietnam Project”

On 26/4/2018, the Ministry of Health (MOH) organized the launching workshop for project “Strengthening the policy and institutional framework of Social Health Insurance in Viet Nam” (TA 9221 VIE). This is an ADB-funded project, with a total budget of $ 1.8 million, that is implemented through the Department of Health Insurance- Ministry of Health and T&C Consulting providing technical and financial management support for constituents and activities. The project is expected to be implemented within two years (2018 – 2019).

Project “Strengthening the policy and institutional framework of Social Health Insurance in Viet Nam” aims to support the strengthening of health insurance institutions and policies in Vietnam, striving towards universal coverage of health insurance, capability enhancement for Ministry of Health and related members in order to better serve the beneficiaries, especially the elderly and the vulnerable. The project consists of three main parts: (i) Support to provide evidence to build up the health insurance policy through research, evaluation and development of policy documents on health insurance; (ii) Research, construct and implement pilot model for long-term health care for elderly people in Viet Nam; and (iii) Strengthen the capacity of health workers and others related to health insurance.

Attending the launching workshop are over 50 representatives from World Health Organization, the World Bank, JICA, ADB, the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, Vietnam National Administration of the Elderly, General Health Department, Vietnam Social Insurance Association, People Directorate, Health Strategy and Policy Institute, and other departments of MOH, consultants, T&C Consulting and press agencies.

In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of Health Pham Le Tuan clearly states that, in the past time, Vietnam had and is having a number of projects with components assisting some issues related to health insurance but they only focus on contents like supporting health insurance fee for certain target groups, researching and piloting on payment methods, and developing basic health package. However, there has not been any project that specifically supports the health insurance sector, especially issues such as supporting policy development, training workers about health insurance and constructing a health care model for a population group through health insurance mechanism. The project “Strengthening the policy and institutional framework of Social Health Insurance in Viet Nam” will present solutions to help Vietnam overcome these shortcomings in the near future.

At the launching workshop, Health Insurance Department’s representative introduced the project overview and T&C Consulting’s representative expert updated on the state of the project during inception phase, identified key stakeholders, discussed the coordinating mechanism for implementation as well as discussing, approving the overall work plan and 6-month work plan. The workshop also listened to the presentation by experts of second component on the research, development and implementation of pilot model for long-term health care for elderly people in Viet Nam. Given the shift of population structure towards ageing, changing patterns of disease with increased non-communicable disease and higher demands for health care, the establishment of health care packages for different groups of people, especially for the elderly, is essential.

According to attending experts’ evaluation, project Strengthening the policy and institutional framework of Social Health Insurance in Viet Nam is the first in-depth, technical assisting project in the field of health insurance in Viet Nam, ensuring that it does not overlap with the activities of programs and projects that have been or are being implemented.

(Video source: Vietnam National Assembly Television)