Ministry of Health adds new drugs to health insurance list

The Ministry of Health plans to add a number of new drugs to the health insurance list, in order to improve the benefits of participants. This new drug list is expected to be issued in the first quarter of 2025.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan delivered the opening speech at the workshop - Photo: D.LIEU

On the morning of December 5, the Ministry of Health held a workshop to disseminate Circular 37 and collect opinions on the list of health insurance drugs.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said that medicine is always one of the factors that accounts for a large proportion of the total cost of medical examination and treatment under health insurance. However, Circular 20 issued in 2022 has revealed some shortcomings after nearly two years of implementation.

"Circular 37 will take effect from January 1, 2025, specifically stipulating the principles and criteria for developing and updating the list of drugs covered by health insurance. This helps ensure transparency, publicity and efficiency in management, while creating fairness in people's access to drugs," said Mr. Thuan.

Currently, the list of drugs covered by health insurance includes 1,037 active ingredients. However, the right to use these active ingredients differs significantly between hospital levels. While special and first-class hospitals can use all of them, second-class hospitals can only use 991 active ingredients, and medical stations can only use 356.

One of the notable points of Circular 37 is the amendment of the structure of the drug list, specifically removing hospital classification in the list of chemical and biological drugs.

Accordingly, medical facilities will be able to use the entire list of drugs suitable for their expertise, regardless of hospital level.

This regulation is expected to promote the development of professional capacity at grassroots medical facilities, while reducing overload at upper-level hospitals.

According to Mr. Dong Huy Truong, Department of Health Insurance, the list of health insurance drugs needs to be updated regularly to meet treatment needs and reduce the cost burden for patients. Adding new drugs, especially highly effective drugs, will help reduce the rate of people having to pay for treatment themselves.

The Ministry of Health also plans to adjust payment regulations according to hospital class and technical expertise to narrow the gap in drug access.

Deputy Minister Thuan emphasized that the Ministry of Health has requested medical facilities to submit proposals for additional drugs before November 15. The drugs considered must fully meet the criteria according to Circular 37 and receive high consensus.

It is expected that the new drug list will be issued in the first quarter of 2025, replacing Circular 20/2022. The Ministry of Health expects this to be a major step forward in improving the rights of health insurance participants, while improving the quality of public health care.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bo-y-te-bo-sung-thuoc-moi-vao-danh-muc-bao-hiem-y-te-2024120511580476.htm