Vietnam-China talks aim for long-term elderly care solutions

Health insurance coverage in China has stabilised at above 97% of the population. 

The Vietnam Social Security’s (VSS) deputy general director Nguyen Duc Hoa visited China in August to boost the cooperation in health insurance policy implementation.

The visit focused on developing universal health insurance, long-term healthcare for the elderly, and health insurance regimes in response to an ageing population.

This was the first ministerial-level visit from Vietnam to China following the State visit of Party General Secretary and President To Lam to China in August 2024.

The VSS delegation met with Chinese authorities, including the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA), National Health Commission, and National Medical Products Administration, in Beijing to discuss universal health insurance, decentralised management, elderly healthcare, and health insurance fund management.

Key topics included the development of a health insurance drug list, bidding methods, and national procurement of medical supplies. 

Both sides expressed a strong interest in expanding cooperation in health insurance and social security, aligning with agreements made by leaders of both nations.

The NHSA, responsible for health insurance policies and fund management in China, noted that health insurance coverage in China exceeds 97%, with a multi-layered system supporting 370 million employees and 960 million urban and rural residents. 

China’s health insurance fund totals nearly $700b, with 3,088 medicines covered under its insurance. Centralised procurement has reduced costs and improved fund efficiency. 

Over 400,000 medical centres and pharmacies are connected to NHSA’s real-time data system, improving oversight of health insurance payments.

NHSA expressed interest in further collaboration with VSS, which welcomed the idea and invited NHSA leaders to visit Vietnam to continue discussions.