Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra has signed Decision No. 844/QD-TTg, establishing a roadmap for universal health insurance (HI) through 2030. The most significant highlight is the plan to diversify the HI Fund’s revenue sources to broaden participant benefits.
Diversifying revenue and expanding preventive care benefits The government plans to develop a mechanism to mobilize new resources, expected to be finalized by the fourth quarter of 2028. Key measures include:
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Excise tax allocation: Utilizing a portion of tax revenue from tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages to fund preventive medical services.
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Expanded coverage: The HI Fund will begin covering periodic health check-ups, screenings, early diagnosis of non-communicable diseases, and chronic disease management.
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Pilot for supplementary HI packages: Researching diversified insurance packages to reduce the financial burden on citizens (to be completed by Q2 2028).
Implementation roadmap and coverage goals The plan sets specific milestones to improve the primary healthcare system:
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2026: Aiming for a health insurance coverage rate exceeding 95.5% of the population.
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May 2026: Developing new medical service prices that incorporate management costs.
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2027: Implementing patient diversion between technical levels to alleviate overcrowding at specialized facilities; allowing hospital discharges on weekends and holidays.
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2030: Achieving the goal of universal health insurance coverage.
Support for vulnerable groups While adjusting HI contribution rates starting in 2027, the government is committed to increasing subsidies for near-poor households, people with disabilities, and social policy beneficiaries. Additionally, direct support mechanisms will be researched to reduce co-payment costs for impoverished patients.