Hanoi health insurance agency cracks down on hospital cost spikes

The Hanoi municipal government has ordered the city’s social insurance agency to analyse BHYT (health insurance) expenditure data and identify hospitals with unusually high cost increases. Facilities flagged for abnormal spending will face inspections, be required to justify the rises, and must adjust practices to prevent misuse of the BHYT fund. The city will also increase routine and spot checks of contracts for medical services.

Separately, Vietnam’s national social insurance authority issued a directive to provincial and city insurers, demanding that medical facilities fully cover services, medicines and equipment entitled under BHYT. The directive bans requiring patients to purchase items out‑of‑pocket, mandates proper climate‑controlled treatment areas, and requires outpatient prescriptions for chronic patients to be issued for up to 30‑day periods to reduce visits. Facilities that fail to comply are to be reported for enforcement action.