Vietnam Ministry of Health proposes expanding traditional medicine insurance coverage

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has proposed expanding the list of traditional medicines and herbal drugs covered by the Health Insurance (BHYT) Fund. The proposal includes adding 129 traditional medicines and 35 drugs that combine modern medicinal ingredients with herbal components.

This marks the first major update to the traditional medicine reimbursement list in 11 years. Currently, while medicines account for over 31% of total health insurance expenditures, traditional medicine spending represents only about 5.4% of the fund. The Ministry aims to leverage the fact that health insurance coverage has exceeded 97% of the population to improve access to traditional medicine, particularly at the commune and grassroots healthcare levels.

The draft circular proposes a list of 358 traditional medicine and herbal drug items, an increase of 129 items compared to the current regulations. Additionally, the 35 proposed combination drugs, such as Ginkgo biloba, would be subject to varying reimbursement rates and treatment scopes depending on the specific type.