Health insurance contributes to improving people's health.

In Son La province, health insurance has been and continues to be a crucial social security policy, ensuring that all citizens receive primary healthcare, especially vulnerable groups, ethnic minorities, those in particularly difficult areas, and border regions. Therefore, the Son La Provincial Social Insurance agency has implemented numerous effective solutions to promote health insurance in the province.

We visited Chiềng On commune, one of the most disadvantaged communes in Yên Châu district (Sơn La province). The people here are mainly ethnic minorities such as the Xinh Mun, Mong, and Thai, who primarily cultivate crops on hillside fields. Therefore, the income of these households remains very difficult. The effective implementation of health insurance policies has contributed to providing basic healthcare for the people here.

Health insurance has affirmed its role as one of the important social security policies in Son La province. Photo: Van Ngoc

Ms. Lo Thi Dung, from Khuong village, Chieng On commune, Yen Chau district (Son La province), shared: Her family has 8 members. Their income mainly comes from growing corn and sugarcane, so they face many difficulties. The government's support for health insurance is a great encouragement for her family. Whenever they are sick, they receive support from health insurance. This helps alleviate some of their immediate difficulties. Her family can work and produce with peace of mind, develop their economy, and strive for prosperity. Even when the health insurance support is no longer available, her family will have a fund to purchase health insurance to take care of the health of their family members.

Mr. Quang Van Dao, Head of the Chieng On Commune Health Station, Yen Chau District (Son La Province), shared: "Located in a commune facing many difficulties in the district, the Chieng On Commune Health Station has effectively implemented the health insurance policy in the area over the years. Government support has contributed to increasing the health insurance coverage rate; creating conditions for ethnic minorities to continue benefiting from health insurance policies, receiving healthcare, and reducing the financial burden in case of illness or disease. This has enabled them to develop sustainably and become self-sufficient in purchasing health insurance."

Ms. Lo Thi Dung, from Khuong village, Chieng On commune, Yen Chau district (Son La province), brought her grandchild to the commune's health station for a check-up under the health insurance scheme. Photo: Van Ngoc

Striving for health insurance coverage.

Striving to achieve the 2024 target of 96.1% health insurance coverage for the local population, the People's Committee of Son La province has sent an open letter to all levels, sectors, agencies, units, and businesses, calling for the purchase of health insurance cards to donate to people in difficult circumstances. By the end of July, the entire province had 1,251,911 people participating in health insurance, reaching a coverage rate of 95.3% of the population.

With the goal of "Leaving no one behind," the Provincial People's Committee calls for the generosity of organizations, businesses, and philanthropists to join hands and contribute; agencies and units are encouraged to mobilize their officials and employees to donate at least one health insurance card each to people in difficult circumstances who do not receive support from the state budget.

Son La province is striving to achieve the 2024 target of 96.1% health insurance coverage for its resident population. (Photo: Van Ngoc)

With the goals set, the Social Insurance sector of Son La province actively advises leaders, Party committees, and local authorities to continue effectively implementing Government Resolution No. 125/NQ-CP on the implementation of social insurance policies.

Innovate the content, form, and methods of communication to be diverse and flexible, adapting to local customs and traditions. Ensure timely and full payment of social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance benefits to participants; coordinate with the health sector to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment to ensure the rights of health insurance cardholders. Strengthen inspection and supervision of employers and health insurance medical facilities.

Mr. Dinh Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Social Insurance Department of Son La province, informed: With the spirit of mutual support and sharing risks between the healthy and the sick, between the young and the old, and between high-income and low-income earners, the Social Insurance Department of Son La province has launched a campaign for each official and employee to contribute at least 50,000 VND per month to the "Savings Fund for Health Insurance Cards". In addition, it has directed specialized departments to actively encourage agencies, units, organizations, individuals, and businesses to contribute to purchasing health insurance cards for people in difficult circumstances.

Authorities at all levels in Son La province are stepping up efforts to promote awareness of health insurance policies. Photo: Van Ngoc

The movement to purchase health insurance cards for people in difficult circumstances has been actively supported by Party committees, governments at all levels, and agencies, units, and businesses in the province, contributing to achieving the health insurance coverage target and moving towards universal health insurance, so that everyone can be protected and cared for in terms of health, reducing the financial burden when they unfortunately fall ill, suffer from diseases, or accidents.

Despite some obstacles and limitations, it must be affirmed that the implementation of health insurance policies for ethnic minorities in disadvantaged areas has contributed to reducing the burden of medical examination and treatment costs, improving the quality of healthcare and health protection, as well as the quality of life for the people.

In the coming period, the Social Insurance Department of Son La province will continue to coordinate with relevant departments to strengthen information and communication efforts, raising awareness among the people, especially ethnic minorities, about their rights and responsibilities when using health insurance cards. Simultaneously, it will guide ethnic minorities in installing and using the health insurance card image on the VssID-BHXH digital application or using chip-embedded citizen identification cards for health insurance-covered medical examinations and treatment, helping ethnic minorities in disadvantaged areas fully enjoy their rights when seeking medical care.

Van Ngoc