Đề xuất miễn viện phí bệnh nhân mắc suy thận, ung thư | VTV24

Key Concepts

• Miễn viện phí (Free Medical Treatment): The central policy discussed, aiming to eliminate or significantly reduce medical costs for citizens.
• Cơ chế chính sách đột phá (Breakthrough Policy Mechanisms): Refers to innovative and impactful policies designed to improve healthcare.
• Bệnh nan y (Incurable/Chronic Diseases): Serious illnesses requiring long-term and often expensive treatment, such as kidney failure, cancer, and other chronic conditions.
• Lộ trình cụ thể (Specific Roadmap): A phased plan with defined timelines for implementing policies.
• Công bằng y tế (Health Equity): Ensuring fair access to healthcare for all individuals, regardless of their background or condition.
• Tính bền vững tài chính (Financial Sustainability): The ability of the healthcare system to remain financially viable in the long term.
• Quỹ bảo hiểm y tế (Health Insurance Fund): The pool of money used to cover healthcare costs.
• Ngân sách nhà nước (State Budget): Government funds allocated for public services, including healthcare.

Summary of National Assembly Discussion on Healthcare Policy

1. Breakthrough Policy Mechanisms for Healthcare Protection, Care, and Improvement

The National Assembly convened to discuss and provide feedback on a draft resolution proposing breakthrough policy mechanisms for the protection, care, and improvement of public health. A key focus of the discussion was the policy of miễn viện phí (free medical treatment).

2. Support for Free Medical Treatment and Proposed Implementation

Deputies expressed strong support for the miễn viện phí policy, advocating for a lộ trình cụ thể (specific roadmap) for its implementation. There was a particular emphasis on the urgent need to prioritize bệnh nhân mắc các bệnh nan y (patients with incurable/chronic diseases), including those undergoing chạy thận nhân tạo (artificial dialysis) for kidney failure, điều trị ung thư (cancer treatment), and other bệnh mạn tính (chronic illnesses).

Key Arguments and Supporting Evidence:

• "Miễn viện phí là điều kiện tốt để tạo ra đột phá trong khám chữa bệnh." (Free medical treatment is a good condition to create breakthroughs in examination and treatment.) This statement highlights the belief that removing financial barriers will significantly improve healthcare access and outcomes.
• "Tuy nhiên, miễn viện phí cần có lộ trình hợp lý nhưng đến năm 2030 phải tiến tới miễn viện phí toàn dân." (However, free medical treatment needs a reasonable roadmap, but by 2030, it must move towards universal free medical treatment.) This indicates a consensus on the ultimate goal of universal free healthcare, with a target year of 2030.
• "Cần thực hiện miễn viện phí sớm, đặc biệt cho những người đang điều trị các bệnh ung thư, bệnh khó chữa, bệnh mạn tính." (Free medical treatment needs to be implemented early, especially for those undergoing treatment for cancer, difficult-to-treat diseases, and chronic illnesses.) This reiterates the urgency for specific patient groups.
• "Những bệnh nhân đang chạy thành nhân tạo rất là khó khăn. Những bệnh nhân bị ung thư đang điều trị với thuộc nhậm đít rất đắt rất mong được giúp ngay cho người ta. Không đừng đợi đến năm 2030 nữa." (Patients undergoing artificial dialysis are facing great difficulties. Cancer patients undergoing treatment with very expensive drugs are eagerly hoping for immediate help. Please do not wait until 2030.) This quote powerfully illustrates the immediate suffering and financial burden faced by patients with critical conditions, underscoring the need for prompt action.
• "Những người có nguy cơ cao như bệnh mãn tính, bệnh di truyền, rối loạn chuyển hóa sớm vân vân luôn cần chi phí điều trị lớn. và kéo dài." (High-risk individuals such as those with chronic diseases, genetic diseases, early metabolic disorders, etc., always require large and prolonged treatment costs.) This points to the long-term financial strain on individuals with pre-existing or predisposed health conditions.

3. Expanding Access and Prioritizing Vulnerable Groups

Deputies also proposed expanding the chuẩn tiếp cận (access standards) based on health risks, arguing that this approach would align policies with practical realities, ensure công bằng y tế (health equity), and contribute to reducing the societal burden of disease in the long term.

Furthermore, there were recommendations to include provisions for nhóm đối tượng được ưu tiên (priority groups) in the draft resolution. These groups include:

• Người cao tuổi (Elderly individuals)
• Người lao động trong môi trường độc hại (Workers in hazardous environments)
• Người lao động ở vùng khó khăn (Workers in difficult regions)

The aim of identifying these groups is to enable local authorities to proactively allocate resources and ensure a unified national approach to their healthcare needs.

4. Ensuring Feasibility and Sustainability of Free Medical Treatment

For the miễn viện phí cơ bản (basic free medical treatment) policy to be feasible and sustainable, the drafting committee was urged to:

• Xác định rõ và định lượng được khái niệm, mức cơ bản được miễn viện phí (Clearly define and quantify the concept and the basic level of free medical treatment). This involves establishing clear definitions and measurable thresholds for what constitutes "free" treatment.
• Đánh giá đầy đủ các kịch bản cân đối quỹ bảo hiểm y tế và ngân sách nhà nước (Fully assess scenarios for balancing the health insurance fund and the state budget). This requires comprehensive financial modeling to understand the impact on existing healthcare funding mechanisms.

Key Considerations for Financial Sustainability:

• "Khi thực hiện tăng mức hưởng cho các đối tượng chính sách và người thu nhập thấp cần tính toán kỹ để không tạo sức ép quá lớn lên nguồn quỷ, bảo đảm đột phá chính sách nhưng không đánh đổi tính bền vững tài chính của hệ thống y tế." (When implementing increased benefits for policy beneficiaries and low-income individuals, careful calculation is needed to avoid creating excessive pressure on the fund, ensuring policy breakthroughs without compromising the financial sustainability of the healthcare system.) This statement emphasizes the delicate balance between expanding benefits and maintaining the long-term financial health of the healthcare system.

5. Ministry of Health's Response and Next Steps

Minister of Health, Đào Hồng Lan, addressed the concerns raised by the deputies, emphasizing that the spirit of Nghị quyết 72 (Resolution 72) has been incorporated.

• Contents for Legislation: Provisions that can be included in the law have been consolidated into the dự án luật phòng bệnh (draft law on disease prevention).
• Periodic Health Check-ups and Screening: Issues related to khám sức khỏe định kỳ (periodic health check-ups) and khám sàng lọc (screening examinations) have been integrated into the law.
• Government Guidance: The Government will provide detailed guidance on target groups, implementation roadmaps, and other matters within its authority through official written directives during the implementation phase.

6. Synthesis and Conclusion

The National Assembly's discussion highlights a strong consensus on the necessity and benefits of a miễn viện phí (free medical treatment) policy to improve public health and achieve công bằng y tế (health equity). While the ultimate goal of universal free healthcare by 2030 is supported, there is a pressing demand for immediate implementation, particularly for patients with bệnh nan y (incurable/chronic diseases). The deputies stressed the importance of a well-defined lộ trình cụ thể (specific roadmap), careful financial planning to ensure tính bền vững tài chính (financial sustainability), and the prioritization of vulnerable groups. The Ministry of Health has indicated that key aspects of these proposals are being integrated into upcoming legislation and will be further detailed through government guidance.