At the event (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) — The Ministry of Health has set out a plan topromote e-payments, or cashless payments, in the health sector, especially forhealth check-ups and treatment services at medical facilities nationwide.
Speaking at an onlineconference on September 20 in Hanoi, Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said the implementation of non-cash payments willbe an important task of the health sector.
Tien said that non-cashpayments have many benefits, including improved safety, speed and accuracy. Italso allows people to access and make payments not only within the country buteven globally.
The minister further said there are still many difficulties in expandingcashless payments in the health sector, such as low rate of hospitals usingcashless payment systems or shortcomings in connecting with banking software orbetween organisations providing intermediary services and information systemsof hospitals.
At the event, thehealth ministry requested units in the sector to develop action plans,resources and conditions to implement suitable non-cash payment solutions.
The ministry askedhospitals and health facilities to actively deploy various forms of electronicpayments for hospital fees and tuition, such as via credit card, smartphone,electronic wallets and electronic payment gateways.
At the same time, thehealth sector will also promote communication and strengthen people’s awarenesson the significance and important utilities of non-cash payment, encouragingpeople to use cashless methods in paying hospital fees and tuition.
State Bank of Vietnam Deputy GovernorNguyenKim Anh said that the bank will continue to work with the health sector in improving people’s experienceand satisfaction in paying treatment fees, reducing queues, contributing toimproving the quality of check-up and treatment services.
The SBV also suggested commercial banks research and applyincentive policies and affordable service fees for payment of hospital fees andimplement incentives, promotion and discount programmes to change habits andbehaviours of customers in paying hospital fees from cash to e-payments.
A report of the SBV shows that around 50 percent of Vietnamese people still do not have bank accounts or e-payment cards.Fees for cashless payments are still high and there is a lack of paymentmethods for medical services at hospitals in mountainous and remote areas,hindering the development of non-cash payments in the health sector.
Vietnam currently has morethan 70 banks providing Mobile Banking and 31 e-wallets of intermediary paymentservice providers that can participate in providing cashless payment solutions.Nearly 14,000 health facilities use bank accounts nationwide./.
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