The Ministry of Finance decided to allocate an additional VND300 billion (USD14.2 million) to medical insurance for the poor in 2013.
Many medical insurance card holders complain of substandard service
The funding would be allocated to 10 cities and provinces throughout the country in order to pay for health insurance for poor people and ethnic minority groups.
Thanh Hoa Province would receive the largest of funds, equaling over VND144.4 billion (USD6.83 million), followed by Dong Thap Province with nearly VND50.4 billion (USD2.38 million), Dak Lak Province with VND42.3 billion (USD2 million), and Bac Kan Province with over VND21.4 billion (USD1 million).
Funds of about VND13.4 billion (USD634,619) would be allocated to Binh Phuoc Province, VND9.8 billion (USD464,125) to Long An Province, over VND8.7 billion (USD412,029) to Hung Yen Province, over VND5.7 billion (USD269,9500 to Haiphong City, VND2.8 billion (USD132,697) to Nam Dinh Province and VND1.5 billion (USD71,039) to Quang Nam Province.
In fact many holders of medical insurance cards in Vietnam do not use them or are not satisfied with the medical service they receive. There are also daunting administrative procedures involved.
Nguyen Hanh Phuc, Chairman of the National Assembly (NA)’s Office, said, “I don’t know why medical workers ask patients who are provided with medical checkups if they have a medical insurance card. Many people don’t want to buy medical insurance for fear that they would receive substandard services.”
A report on the implementation of medical insurance policies between 2009 and 2012 showed that the number of people who bought medical insurance increased 58% in 2009 to 67% in 2012. Only 20% bought insurance voluntarily.
The majority of medical card holds are poor or living near the poverty level, ethnic minorities, sate officers, retired people and children aged under six.
Only a half of corporate workers bought medical insurance, and the rate among private firms was only from 20%-30%.
NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, in order to persuade more people to buy medical insurance, said it is necessary to increase the quality of service and improve the ethnics of medical workers.
