A social security officer in Kon Tum Province explains the benefits of health insurance to local people. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — About 91.1 million people in Việt Nam participated in health insurance last year, accounting for 92.04 per cent of the population and marking an increase of over 2.2 million participants compared to 2021, according to the Vietnam Social Security (VSS).

Speaking at the online conference that the VSS organised this week to launch tasks for 2023, its general director Nguyễn Thế Mạnh said that the health insurance coverage exceeds the targets set by the National Assembly and Government.

In addition, about 17.5 million people joined social insurance last year, accounting for 38.08 per cent of Việt Nam’s workforce. About 14.3 million people participated in unemployment insurance, making up 31.18 per cent of the workforce.

Last year, the VSS handled over 95,600 new claims and promptly paid monthly pensions and social insurance allowances to 3.3 million people. Nearly 11 million people enjoyed sickness, maternity, convalescence, and health rehabilitation allowances; while over 977,600 got unemployment insurance benefits. The total amount spent on beneficiaries reached VNĐ382 trillion (US$16.3 billion).

At the conference, Mạnh asked the whole sector to continue reviewing and simplifying administrative procedures; expanding the forms of providing online public services at level 4 and accelerating digital transformation.

He asked for connecting social and health insurance data systems to those of ministries and agencies as well as promoting the effective interconnection among national databases on insurance. — VNS