Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan - Photo: GIA HAN
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan responded to the opinions of Cao Bang province voters sent after the 6th session of the 15th National Assembly.
There are still many problems in purchasing drugs and medical supplies.
Accordingly, voters proposed that the Ministry of Health consider issuing regulations that in case patients have to buy medicine and medical supplies outside the hospital (medicine and medical supplies in the insurance list as prescribed by a doctor), they will be paid by the health insurance fund.
This is to ensure legitimate rights for people who have health insurance cards but are not provided with medical examination and treatment due to lack of medicine and medical supplies at medical examination and treatment facilities.
Responding to this content, Minister Dao Hong Lan said that the lists of drugs and medical supplies covered by the health insurance fund are issued by the Ministry of Health and regulated in circulars.
Thus, the list of drugs and medical supplies covered by the current health insurance fund has relatively fully and comprehensively met the need for drugs and medical supplies, in accordance with the payment capacity of the health insurance fund.
However, to have available medicines and medical supplies for use at medical examination and treatment facilities, it is necessary to comply with regulations on procurement and selection of drug suppliers in accordance with legal regulations on bidding.
Currently, there are many problems in the implementation of procurement, specifically, the bidding for the purchase of drugs and medical supplies at medical examination and treatment facilities is still difficult, and in some places, it is not on schedule as planned.
In addition, due to the impact of the epidemic, the supply of drugs and medical supplies has also been affected and disrupted to some extent, many manufacturers do not have enough raw materials to produce and distribute drugs and medical supplies.
This also leads to increased prices of drugs and medical supplies and makes procurement and bidding more difficult.
Will expand the list of drugs and medical supplies covered by health insurance
To overcome the above problem, according to Minister Dao Hong Lan, in 2023, the Ministry issued Circular 06/2023 amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular 15/2019 regulating drug bidding at public health facilities; Circular 14/2023 regulating the order and procedures for developing bidding package prices for goods procurement and service provision in the field of medical equipment at public health facilities.
The Ministry is also coordinating with relevant ministries and branches to synchronously deploy solutions, such as reviewing and perfecting legal documents, focusing on reviewing and perfecting legal documents on procurement and bidding for drugs and medical supplies.
In particular, urgently make adjustments to procurement regulations in accordance with the provisions of the new Bidding Law; amend and supplement the list, paying special attention to expanding the list of drugs and medical supplies to meet treatment needs and ensure the rights of health insurance participants; focus on accelerating the implementation of national centralized bidding and price negotiations, and urging medical examination and treatment facilities and related units to ensure the procurement and supply of drugs for patients.
At the same time, research is also being done to develop regulations on payment mechanisms for the costs of medicines and medical supplies covered by health insurance that people must buy outside to ensure the rights of health insurance participants.
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