Vietnam proposes health insurance and prescription policy updates

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health is proposing several significant updates to health insurance (BHYT) and medical prescription policies to improve care for chronic patients and the elderly.

Key proposals include expanding the list of diseases eligible for outpatient prescriptions exceeding 30 days to a total of 372 conditions, allowing for up to 90 days of medication. This expansion covers cardiovascular, skin, respiratory, and cancer-related illnesses. Additionally, the Ministry is considering increasing health insurance coverage for individuals aged 75 and older and expanding coverage to include early screening and diagnosis for seven types of cancer and hepatitis B and C.

Other proposed changes involve providing insurance coverage for periodic health check-ups, with maximum reimbursement rates varying by age group. The Ministry is also researching ways to increase social pension subsidies for those without regular pensions. Furthermore, the health insurance fund may cover patient transportation costs in specific medical transfer cases involving vulnerable groups such as children under six, the poor, and people with meritorious service to the revolution.