The National Assembly has officially passed a Resolution on special mechanisms to create breakthroughs in public healthcare. Accordingly, a specific roadmap to increase health insurance benefits, leading toward basic hospital fee exemptions, has been established alongside significant adjustments to medical personnel’s salary structures.
expanded benefits for health insurance participants Starting January 1, 2026, several groups will see an increase in their health insurance coverage:
- 100% Cost Coverage: Applicable to individuals from near-poor households and seniors aged 75 and older receiving social retirement benefits.
- Expanded Priority Groups: Increased payment rates for social policy beneficiaries, low-income earners, and other priority cases.
- Hospital Fee Exemption Roadmap: By 2030, a basic hospital fee exemption policy is expected to be implemented, contingent upon socio-economic conditions and fund balancing.
Notably, from 2027, the health insurance fund will begin covering early screening and diagnosis for specific diseases, synchronized with adjusted premium levels.
diversification of insurance models The government plans to pilot more diverse health insurance packages, including supplemental health insurance provided by commercial enterprises. This aims to meet the public’s demand for varied and high-quality healthcare services as conditions permit.
breakthroughs in medical sector compensation The Resolution also outlines specific regulations to attract and retain medical human resources:
- Higher Starting Salaries: Doctors and pharmacists will be ranked at salary level 2 upon recruitment.
- 100% Professional Allowances: Applicable to medical staff in specialized fields such as psychiatry, forensics, intensive care, and pathology.
- Priority for Primary Healthcare: Staff at commune health stations in remote, mountainous, or border areas and islands will receive the maximum professional allowance (100%); those in other areas will receive a minimum of 70%.
Furthermore, the new mechanism grants healthcare facilities greater autonomy in establishing income-supplement funds and mobilizing social resources to enhance operational quality.