Continuously expanding health insurance coverage in HIV/AIDS treatment
VGP - Currently, the rate of health insurance coverage in HIV/AIDS treatment nationwide is 91 percent, in which 12 provinces and cities have a coverage rate equal to or greater than 99 percent, while the remaining provinces and towns have a coverage rate of 80-90 percent.
The health insurance card is essential not only for people living with HIV/AIDS but also for any citizen. Photo: Thuy Chi
In recent years, provinces and cities have increased counselling for people living with HIV to participate in health insurance and ensured that local budgets support purchasing health insurance cards for these people.
In Ha Noi, thanks to the expansion of health insurance coverage for people living with HIV/AIDS, the number of people participating in health insurance increased, and the quality of medical examination and treatment covered by health insurance was considerably improved.
Specifically, by the end of 2021, the number of people participating in health insurance in the city has increased to 7,482,132 people, reaching 91.8 percent coverage.
The procedure for participating in health insurance has been reformed and has become simpler. The time limit for new card issuance is shortened from 7 days to 5 days; the card re-issuance period is shortened from 5 days to 3 days.
In Ho Chi Minh City, up to now, 95 percent of HIV/AIDS patients have health insurance cards.
The City Council also approved Resolution No. 14/2020/NQ-HDND on supporting the health insurance card for people living with HIV/AIDS and supporting costs and pay for antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS-infected people with health insurance cards in Ho Chi Minh City.
According to Assoc.Prof.Dr. Phan Thi Thu Huong, Director of the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control (Ministry of Health), Decision No. 2188/QD-TTg, dated November 15, 2016, issued by the Prime Minister, to pay for ARV drugs, promoted equitable access among patient groups.
By 2022, the rate of people participating in ART with health insurance cards has reached 95 percent. Viet Nam has become a global highlight regarding financial mechanism transformation for HIV/AIDS treatment programs./.