Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City were "suspended" 2,485 billion VND: Ministry of Health urgently requested

According to the official dispatch sent by the Department of Health Insurance (Ministry of Health) to Vietnam Social Security under the Ministry of Finance , on May 5 and June 24, the Ministry of Health received 2 official dispatches from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health.

These documents make requests for payment of costs exceeding the estimated medical examination and treatment (KCB) budget for health insurance (HI) and for not yet recovering costs for technical services performed on medical equipment that have not completed the establishment of public ownership before March 4, 2023.

After that, the press also reported that hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City have not yet settled thousands of billions of VND in health insurance examination and treatment costs in 2 years. Specifically, in 2023, health insurance examination and treatment facilities in Ho Chi Minh City had health insurance examination and treatment costs exceeding the estimate by 557.5 billion VND.

This amount has been appraised, assessed and sent to Vietnam Social Security by the Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance (HCMSSI). In 2024, the cost of health insurance will continue to increase, the amount exceeding the budget allocated by the Prime Minister according to Decision No. 930/QD-TTg dated September 5, 2024 is about 1,950 billion VND.

At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance is recovering health insurance treatment costs performed on medical equipment that has not completed the establishment of public ownership before March 4, 2023.

Vụ các bệnh viện ở TPHCM bị treo 2.485 tỷ đồng: Bộ Y tế đề nghị khẩn - 1 — People register for health insurance medical examination and treatment at a public hospital in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Hoang Le).

On the above issue, the Ministry of Health has 4 opinions.

Firstly, regarding the health insurance costs of medical services performed on medical equipment that has not yet completed the establishment of public ownership, on February 27, the Ministry of Health sent an official dispatch to the Vietnam Social Security requesting not to recover costs in this category.

The Ministry of Health is synthesizing and reporting to the Government on this content, so it is recommended that Vietnam Social Security direct the Social Security of provinces and centrally-run cities not to recover this expense until there is a decision from the Government and the Prime Minister.

Second, regarding the cost of health insurance exceeding the estimate in 2023, on May 12, the Social Insurance Management Board issued Resolution No. 730/NQ-HDQL on the regular meeting of the first quarter of 2025.

In Clause 1, Section I of the Resolution, the Council unanimously approved in principle the 2023 Financial Finalization Report of Vietnam Social Security.

Therefore, it is recommended that Vietnam Social Security urgently report to the Ministry of Finance and submit to the Government for consideration and approval of health insurance medical examination and treatment costs exceeding the 2023 budget estimate to pay for medical examination and treatment facilities, including medical examination and treatment facilities in Ho Chi Minh City.

Third, regarding the cost of health insurance in 2024, on July 25, the Ministry of Health issued Official Dispatch No. 4922/BYT-BH on reviewing the amount of excess expenditure. Accordingly, the amount of excess expenditure in 2024 is implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Health Insurance, Decree No. 146/2018/ND-CP and Decree No. 75/2023/ND-CP of the Government.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health requests that Vietnam Social Security direct social security agencies of provinces and centrally run cities to promptly implement in accordance with regulations.

Fourth, the Ministry of Health requested the Vietnam Social Security to direct the Social Security of provinces and centrally-run cities to make advances for health insurance medical examination and treatment costs according to the rate and number of advances in accordance with the provisions of Article 32 of the Law on Health Insurance, to ensure funding for health insurance medical examination and treatment activities for the people.

As Dan Tri reported, on August 1, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health sent an urgent document to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, regarding the payment of excess funds for health insurance examination and treatment (HI) in 2023 and 2024.

Through reports from medical facilities, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health recorded that the Social Insurance agency has not paid the cost of exceeding the estimated health insurance medical examination and treatment budget for 2023 and 2024, with a total amount of more than VND 2,485 billion. Of which, in 2023 it is more than VND 557.5 billion and in 2024 it is more than VND 1,928 billion.

The fact that health insurance medical expenses have not been paid for a long time in excess of the budget is causing difficulties for units in ensuring operating funds and balancing financial revenues and expenditures, when the price of health insurance services has not been calculated correctly and fully.

This has had a certain impact on the medical examination and treatment activities of medical units and the rights of patients. More worryingly, some units are currently in debt for medicine and are not able to pay the companies.

Therefore, the Department of Health requested the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to consider issuing a document requesting the Ministry of Health and Vietnam Social Security to guide the Ho Chi Minh City Social Security to promptly pay the above amount, to create conditions for units to ensure operating funding sources when implementing financial autonomy still faces many difficulties.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/vu-cac-benh-vien-o-tphcm-bi-treo-2485-ty-dong-bo-y-te-de-nghi-khan-20250811222449700.htm