Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – As many as 89 percent of HIV/AIDS patientsreceiving antiretroviral drug (ARV) treatment in Vietnam have signed up forhealth insurance cards so far, with the figure expected to exceed 90 percent bythe end of this year.
The information was revealed at a workshop held by the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention andControl, in conjunction with international organisations, in Hanoi on November20, which was part of activities responding to the national action month for HIV/AIDS prevention 2018.
The event aims to guide the management and use of ARV medicine from health insurance funds in2019 for HIV/AIDS treatment establishments.
Addressing the event, Associate Prof. PhD Nguyen Hoang Long, Director of the MoH’s Department ofHIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, highlighted Vietnam’s achievements in HIV/AIDSprevention in recent years, stating that the rate of HIV-infected people has continuedto decrease over the last 10 years.
It is estimated that efforts have helped about 400,000 people avoid contractingHIV and about 150,000 others from dying due to the disease, he said.
However, Long pointed out some of the difficulties facing the country in thefight against HIV/AIDS, as assistance sources for HIV/AIDS prevention isdecreasing, adding that this has challenged Vietnam to realise its 90-90-90target for HIV/AIDS prevention and control by 2020.
In recent times, the MoH has taken a series of actions, focusing on raisingpublic awareness of health insurance cards for ARV treatment and directing localities to improve the standards of theirhealth stations for HIV/AIDS treatment, enabling them to meet the requirementsof medical examination and treatment under health insurance contracts, thus expandingthe coverage of health insurance for HIV/AIDS carriers.
Attention has been also paid to signing contracts of ARV medicine supply;works related to receiving, managing, and using the medicine; and managinginformation of HIV patients taking ARV treatment.
Long said the ministry is coordinating with the Vietnam Social Security tobuild a database of HIV/AIDS patients receiving ARV treatment, which will servethe management of ARV invoices and receipts from health insurance sources.
Congratulating Vietnam on its achievements in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Chiefrepresentative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Vietnam Kidong Parksaid he was impressed with the National Assembly’s attention on sustainable HIVcontrol, in particular its plans to reinforce the national HIV/AIDS preventionprogramme in the country’s health system.
He said this is a very important stage for Vietnam to implement the programme objectivesand promote the programme in the country’s health system, reaching its targetof completely eradicating HIV/AIDS by 2030.
Park suggested that Vietnam expand its ARV management system by usingassistance from insurance health funds to help all HIV carriers and patientswith infectious diseases easily access health services without financial barriers.
Resources from the Government and localities are necessary for HIV patientstaking ARV treatment, who oftencannot afford health insurance, he added.
According to the Department of HIV/AIDSPrevention and Control, the health sector is rushing to prepare for theprovision of ARV medicine through the Health Insurance Fund as from January 1,2019 under the Prime Minister’s Decision No.1125/QD-TTg dated July 31, 2017.Accordingly, after the decision takes effect, 191 medical establishments willbe provided with ARV medicine to treat around 48,000 patients.
The 90-90-90 goals mean that by 2020, 90 percent ofHIV-infected people will be diagnosed, 90 percent of patients will have access to andreceive ARV drugs, and 90 percent of people taking ARV drugs will have durableviral suppression.–VNA
VNA
