What does Ho Chi Minh City say about the document of the Ministry of Health that contradicts the interests of patients?

Documents of the Ministry of Health make patients disadvantaged?

On May 9, the Ministry of Health issued Official Letter No. 2348 on the annulment of Official Letter No. 2009 dated April 12, 2018 of this Ministry to the Vietnam Social Insurance on payment for technical services using borrowed and used machines. ordered by the winning units of materials and chemicals.

On May 12, Vietnam Social Security issued Official Letter 1261/BHXH-CSYT to stop paying under the health insurance regime based on document No. 2348 of the Ministry of Health.

Immediately, on May 13, Cho Ray Hospital sent an urgent request to continue to pay technical service fees on borrowed and ordered machines of the winning companies. Or, have a roadmap that allows for a gradual transition while looking for an alternative.

According to this hospital’s analysis, every year, the hospital has more than 1.5 million outpatients (60% health insurance) and 150,000 inpatients (80% health insurance). The number of patients participating in health insurance is very large.

Meanwhile, 80% of the testing machine system currently operating at the Hospital is borrowed and ordered from the winning companies for materials and chemicals. The technical portfolio performed on these machines are essential tests for the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

When complying with the requirements of Official Dispatch 2348 of the Ministry of Health and 1261 of the Vietnam Social Security, two situations occur:

Firstly, the hospital stopped performing all tests on borrowed and ordered machines from the winning companies for materials and chemicals. That means, the hospital will stop operating because there are not enough paraclinical facilities to serve the diagnosis and treatment. At that time, the patient’s life will definitely be in danger.

Secondly, the Hospital will continue to perform tests on borrowed and ordered machines, but patients have to pay for themselves. This will affect the benefits of patients with health insurance and can have a great impact on social security.

Therefore, Cho Ray Hospital proposed that the Ministry of Health and Vietnam Social Insurance continue to pay according to the health insurance regime the cost of technical services performed on borrowed machines, machines ordered from the winning company for materials and chemicals or with a changed schedule. , to ensure the legitimate interests of patients with health insurance (financial and health),

What did the HCMC People’s Committee say?

Right after that, the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City issued an urgent document on reporting difficulties and problems when implementing the above dispatches of the Ministry of Health and Vietnam Social Security.

Accordingly, in Ho Chi Minh City, there are about 412 medical examination and treatment facilities. In which, there are 185 medical examination and treatment facilities covered by health insurance (HI).

From May 1 to May 12, 2022, there were 9,451 medical check-ups with tests out of 113,409 medical check-ups. The cost of testing/total cost is 47 billion VND/528.3 billion VND (accounting for 8.92%.) Accordingly, the average cost of testing per day for health insurance patients is over 4 billion VND. .

Thus, when implementing Official Letter No. 2348 of the Ministry of Health from May 9 to the end of May 12, the cost of testing for patients covered by health insurance in Ho Chi Minh City was estimated at 16 billion VND. This number will not be paid by health insurance according to Official Letter No. 1261 of Vietnam Social Security.

Therefore, stopping payment according to Official Letter No. 2348 of the Ministry of Health and Official Letter No. 1261 of the Vietnam Social Security will lead to medical examination and treatment facilities temporarily suspending the provision of technical services for testing on machines. installed, borrowed machine, which means that the patient is not diagnosed and treated in time.

“This can seriously affect the quality of treatment, health and life of patients,” the document stated.

If medical examination and treatment facilities continue to provide these technical services, but patients have to pay for themselves, this will affect the interests of patients with health insurance, greatly affect public opinion and slow down roadmap for universal health insurance.

Therefore, the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City proposed the Minister of Health, the Director of Vietnam Social Insurance to consider and approve the continued payment of testing costs by health insurance for practical testing technical services. from the ordered or borrowed machines until there are new instructions from the competent authorities. If the payment has to be stopped, it is necessary to have a roadmap so that medical facilities have enough time to prepare.

Linh Giao

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