Vietnam: Patients purchasing their own medication for reimbursement under health insurance
To address the persistent issue of medication and medical supply shortages at healthcare facilities, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam has proposed a solution that would enable health insurance patients to claim reimbursement for self-purchased supplies. This initiative comes as a relief to many patients who have been forced to procure their own medications and supplies at considerably higher costs than those covered by health insurance.
Under the proposal, patients facing shortages at medical facilities will have two options for purchasing medication and supplies. They can opt for procurement at the hospital’s pharmacy where they are receiving treatment or choose pharmacies that have secured the bid to provide services at specific medical facilities.
To qualify for reimbursement, patients will need to furnish a prescription from their doctors along with a purchase invoice for the medication or supplies procured.
The proposal also mandates hospitals to conduct procurement tenders to ensure a consistent and sufficient supply of medications. Should a hospital fail to provide the necessary supplies, it is obliged to transfer patients to another facility equipped to guide them on where to purchase the required items. Simultaneously, the hospital must notify the Health Insurance Agency of the situation.
Minister of Health Đào Hồng Lan has issued directives to medical facilities, emphasizing the imperative of ensuring an adequate supply of medicine and discouraging patients from purchasing medication from external sources during inpatient treatment. This cautionary approach aims to mitigate risks associated with the quality, safety, and cost of medications.
The Ministry of Health has urged the Health Insurance Department to draft a circular that safeguards the rights of health insurance beneficiaries compelled to purchase their own medication.
However, experts have raised concerns about the sluggish process of updating the list of drugs covered by health insurance for patients in Việt Nam. The addition of new drugs to this list takes an average of two to four years, a delay that experts assert needs rectification to align with international timelines for new drug additions.
This call for more swift adjustments to the drug coverage list resonates with experts who advocate synchronizing Việt Nam’s drug coverage policies with the timelines observed by other nations, ensuring timely access to crucial medications for patients.
The proposal by the Ministry of Health stands as a potential solution to allay the burden on patients facing shortages while meeting the need for systemic reforms in medicine procurement and coverage policies to ensure efficient and timely access to essential medications for all.
Source: VietNam News
Category: Community
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