Vietnam plans to digitize healthcare cards
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The electronic system will also make insurance payments faster and more transparent. Vietnam plans to issue electronic health security cards to its citizens verifying their right to medical services, the Government Office said on Monday.
Just as a social security card shows that a person has a lifetime account used to calculate their pension benefits, the healthcare security card will make it more convenient for patients to access insurance plans and health care.
The push to digitize the system is aimed at seamless healthcare delivery and insurance across the country.
With the new system, electronic healthcare registries in all 63 cities and provinces will be synced together so that regardless of whether a cardholder changes their job, move to a different place or have pre-existing medical conditions, insurance plans will have to accept all cardholders.
The electronic system will also make insurance payments faster and more transparent through digital transactions.
The Vietnam Social Security Administration is in charge of developing a plan to sync health security, social security and unemployment insurance on one electronic card.
About 75 million Vietnamese people, equal to about 81 percent of the population, have registered for the national health insurance program. The government aims to lift healthcare coverage to 91 percent of its population.
However, it is still unclear about how the government will prevent the fraudulent use of the cards or how they will protect the privacy of patients and their medical records.
Vietnam is also working on electronic immunization records that will make it easier to track vaccination data and make sure children get their shots at the recommended ages.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary goal of digitising healthcare cards in Vietnam?
What is the primary goal of digitising healthcare cards in Vietnam?
The main goal is to create smooth healthcare delivery and insurance across the country. It aims to make it more convenient for patients to access insurance plans and medical services regardless of their location or existing conditions.
Q.Which government body is responsible for developing the combined electronic card system?
Which government body is responsible for developing the combined electronic card system?
The Vietnam Social Security Administration is in charge of developing a plan. Their task is to sync health security, social security, and unemployment insurance onto a single electronic card for citizens.
Q.What percentage of the Vietnamese population is currently covered by national health insurance?
What percentage of the Vietnamese population is currently covered by national health insurance?
About 75 million Vietnamese people are currently registered for the national health insurance program. This figure is equal to approximately 81 percent of the country's total population.
Q.What specific concerns about the new system have not yet been clarified?
What specific concerns about the new system have not yet been clarified?
It is currently unclear how the government plans to prevent fraudulent use of the cards. There is also no specific information on how patient privacy and medical record security will be protected.
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