(VOV) – Keizo Takemi, president of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), introduced Japan’s experience in implementing its national health insurance programme at a workshop in Hanoi on March 4.
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He said Japan does not have a one size fits all program but adapts its health insurance programmes to each specific locality.
Each locality funds a portion of the cost based on their individual needs and desires through voluntary contributions.
“The government legalizes health insurance by adopting the bottom-up approach, and as a result, the law enforcement proves effective,” said Takemi, who is also a member of the House of Councillors of Japan.
Addressing the workshop, Truong Thi Mai, Chairwoman of the National Assembly Committee for Social Affairs (CSA), noted health insurance for all is one of key pillars in Vietnam’s social welfare policy and is a financial mechanism, contributing to building a fair and effective public health system in line with the revised Constitution in 2013.
Currently Vietnam’s health insurance programme is in a period of transition to universal coverage for all. By the end of last year, 70% of the population was participating in the programme.
However, raising the rate to 75% in 2015 and 80% in 2020 requires more policies to be put in place.
Mai added that Vietnam has made a positive progress in health insurance implementation. The Health Insurance Law officially came into effect in 2009 and the National Assembly is scheduled to adopt the revised law in May 2014.
The biggest challenge lying ahead is to coordinate access to health insurance services, she stressed.
Đăng ký: VietNam News