The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) must enhance inspections and join hands with relevant agencies to ensure transparency and prevent health insurance fraud. — Photo Dương Ngọc

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) must enhance inspections and join hands with relevant agencies to ensure transparency and prevent health insurance fraud, Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ said at a meeting with the VSS yesterday.

He pointed out that social insurance coverage in the country stood at just 29 per cent of the population, far below the target of 50 per cent by 2020 set by the Party Central Committee’s Resolution 21-NQ/TW.

Therefore, the VSS must step up efforts to increase the number of participants, he said.

The social security agency should also collaborate with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Public Security to ensure transparent bidding for medicines covered by health insurance schemes as well as other medical commodities, Huệ said.

He praised the sector’s achievements in 2017, noting that the collection, estimated at VNĐ290 trillion (US$12.8 billion), was the highest since 2007, when the Law on Social Insurance took effect.

The VSS has also had a fruitful year in its efforts to reform administrative procedures, apply information technology in management and effectively implement online public services, he said.

VSS Deputy Director Phạm Lương Sơn reported that 13.83 million people have joined social insurance schemes, 79.9 million people hold health insurance cards, and some 11.4 million people have bought unemployment insurance.

The VSS spent VNĐ270 billion ($11.9 million) in social, health and unemployment insurance payments. An improved inspection regime helped keep social insurance debts at below 3 per cent, the lowest level ever and down 0.8 per cent from 2016.

As social insurance and health insurance are two main pillars of the national social welfare, the VSS should work towards creating a professional, transparent, reliable and efficient system, helping spread social and health insurance coverage to all people, the Deputy PM said. — VNS