(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said insurance is one of the main pillars for assuring social stability. Mr. Phuc asked the Ministry of Health, the Vietnam Social Insurance, provinces and cities to take action to ensure that at least 90 percent of the population is covered by health insurance by 2020.

People read notices of medical fees in a hospital of HCM City’s Thu Duc District (Photo: VNA)

At present, some provinces have reached this target. The health insurance coverage rate is rather in some northern mountainous provinces, which receives support from the government for health insurance. The Vietnam Social Insurance has proposed the government to give them more responsibility and authority in the process to expand insurance coverage. Mr. Le Van Phuc, deputy head of the Department for Health Insurance Policy of the Vietnam Social Insurance company, said: “It is necessary to make open mechanisms in household participation in health insurance. Each person can buy an insurance card at different times to reduce the financial burden on the family. Localities should also be active in supporting poorer people to join a health insurance scheme. The Ministry of Education and Training also needs to communicate, encouraging students to take part”.