USAID Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock (second left) and Viet Nam Social Insurance Security Deputy General Director Phạm Lương Sơn (first right) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on supporting health insurance. — Photo courtesy of US Embassy

HÀ NỘI — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Việt Nam Social Security (VSS) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on supporting health insurance implementation.

The USAID Local system Sustainability project will provide technical assistance to VSS to improve its Social Health Insurance (SHI) implementation for the next four years.

The project will also support Việt Nam’s transition to full financial ownership of its HIV and tuberculosis responses.

The assistance will focus on three key areas, namely SHI policy implementation, management of SHI drugs and medical supplies, and exchange of information on health insurance policies, application of health technology and social health information systems.

Speaking at the signing ceremony VSS Deputy General Director Phạm Lương Sơn said the MoU between VSS and USAID is the first document officially signed between the two agencies.

It was also a significant event on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and the US and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the VSS (1995-2020).

The signing of the MoU opened a new phase of cooperation between VSS and USAID, deepening the partnership through a series of technical assistance activities.

Việt Nam Social Insurance Security Deputy General Director Phạm Lương Sơn speaks at the signing ceremony on Friday. — Photo courtesy of US Embassy

“I believe that with the continuous efforts of VSS and the valuable and effective assistance from international organisations such as USAID, we will soon build a modern, sustainable and effective health insurance system, meeting people's satisfaction,” Sơn said.

“The VSS strives to realise the target of having 95 per cent of the population covered by health insurance by 2025 and satisfaction rate of people will be up to 80 per cent as required by the Government,” he said.

“We value our close partnership with VSS and will continue our work together to strengthen the governance and financial management capacity of VSS to manage SHI funds effectively, efficiently, equitably, and with accountability,” said USAID Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock.

She said the MoU signing reinforced USAID’s commitment to support Việt Nam’s efforts in its journey to self-reliance towards achieving strong, sustainable health systems as a means to support access to universal health coverage.

Over the past five years, USAID has worked closely with Vietnamese Government agencies, including VSS, to include coverage of HIV treatment services and antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in the SHI scheme.

This considerable effort included updating over 20 policies to allow expansion of SHI to cover HIV treatment and ARVs, and transitioning 440 stand-alone HIV clinics into the national public health system so they can get reimbursed for providing HIV services.

As a result, over 90 per cent of persons living with HIV nationwide are now enrolled and use SHI-covered HIV services. This year, SHI is set to procure ARVs for more than two-thirds of all HIV patients nationwide. — VNS