At its third thematic session, the 11th-tenure Dak Lak Provincial People's Council officially adopted a resolution providing financial support for purchasing health insurance (HI) cards for older people province-wide who are not yet covered.

Dak Lak is entering a period of population ageing, with 450,444 older people. A review found that 83,768 people aged 60 to under 75 who are permanent residents of the province remain without HI coverage, owing to financial difficulties or their ineligibility for state budget support.

According to the Provincial People's Council's Committee for Culture and Social Affairs, the policy providing 100% support for HI premiums for uninsured people aged 60 to under 75 is a deeply humane policy decision, reflecting practical needs and the Party and State’s major orientations.

Leaders of the Ea Kar Social Insurance Office providing information on health insurance and voluntary social insurance policies to local residents.

Specialist Level II Doctor Huynh Le Xuan Bich, Deputy Director of the Department of Health, said that 83,768 older people province-wide currently meet the eligibility criteria for the policy. The estimated annual cost of providing HI cards exceeds 114.4 billion VND. The policy will not only enable older people to access primary healthcare at grassroots health facilities and receive ongoing monitoring of their health conditions, but also help reduce the cost of treating serious illnesses alongside narrow disparities in access to healthcare services. It will also provide an important impetus for Dak Lak to expand HI coverage, strengthen its response to population ageing and reinforce the provincial social welfare network.

To ensure the resolution is promptly put into practice, clear and rigorous procedures have been established. Each month, commune- together with ward-level People's Committees will review and compile lists of eligible older people as well as submit them to the social insurance agency for HI card issuance by the 25th. The agency will then forward the cards to local authorities for direct distribution to residents before the 30th of each month. Implementation funding will be covered by the annual provincial budget expenditure estimate.

The adoption of the resolution is welcome news for tens of thousands of households across Dak Lak. It also reflects the provincial commitment to putting people first and ensuring that “no one is left behind” in the socio-eco development process.

Translated by KHUONG THAO