AN GIANG — The Mekong Delta province of An Giang aims to have at least 90 per cent of the population covered by health insurance by 2020, as per the Government’s goal.

The province’s People’s Committee held a conference on Tuesday to review its outcomes of the health and social insurance programme in the 2012-20 period and missions for this year.

Vũ Hoàng Cương, director of the province’s Social Insurance Agency, said in the 2012-17 period total revenue from social, health and unemployment insurance reached over VNĐ12.2 trillion (US$535 million) at an average increase of 30 per cent yearly.

The number of participants increased significantly by 21.5 per cent in social insurance, 39 per cent in health insurance, and 24.3 per cent in unemployment insurance against 2012.

About 106,000 people participated in social insurance, accounting for nearly one-third of non-agricultural labourers and equaling 9 per cent of the labour force in the province.

More than 87,600 workers applied for unemployment insurance, accounting for 83 per cent of participants in social insurance.

The number of people covered by health insurance is 1.66 million.

Nguyễn Thanh Bình, vice chairman of the province’s People’s Committee, said that provincial authorities should work closely with departments, organisations, enterprises and agencies to implement policies on social and health insurance.
The social insurance sector should aim to increase the participation rate and attractiveness of health and social insurance to ensure that the target is reached.

The province’s health department should encourage all grassroots health units to improve the quality of health examination and treatment services covered by health insurance.

Social insurance agencies need to simplify administrative procedures and step up inspections and supervision of social and health insurance policies, and strictly prevent abuse of social and health insurance funds, including profiting off the funds. — VNS