At the event, Deputy Minister of Finance and VSS Director General Nguyen Thi Minh said Vietnam and South Africa share many similarities in the implementation of healthcare and social security policies. Like its South African counterpart, the Vietnamese Government has always paid attention to social insurance to ensure socio-economic stability.
Introducing the VSS’s activities, she noted health insurance has covered 87% of Vietnam’s population, 50% of them have their insurance contribution paid by the State budget. Meanwhile, about 50% of the people of working age in the country have participated in social insurance.
Vietnam is working towards universal coverage of health and social insurance in the time ahead, she added.
For her part, Director General of the National Department of Health Malebona Precious Matsoso described the VSS delegation’s visit a prerequisite for the establishment of bilateral cooperation in health insurance and social security.
Matsoso, who is also a senior specialist of the World Health Organisation, said South Africa in particular and the international community in general highly value the health insurance and social security models in Vietnam and consider these an example to many other countries.
At the session, the two sides shared information and experience in carrying out health insurance and social security policies in each country, especially in remote areas where the provision of public services face difficulties. They also exchanged experience in organising public services and drug tendering.
The VSS delegation is paying a visit to South Africa from July 22 to 26.
