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Healthcare Services Utilisation and Financial Burden among Vietnamese Older People and Their Households

Author

Listed:
  • Long Thanh Giang

    (Faculty of Economics, National Economics University (NEU), Hanoi 11616, Vietnam)

  • Tham Hong Thi Pham

    (Faculty of Mathematical Economics, National Economics University (NEU), Hanoi 11616, Vietnam)

  • Phong Manh Phi

    (Faculty of Political Studies, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology (HUMG), Hanoi 10000, Vietnam)

  • Nam Truong Nguyen

    (Institute of Social and Medical Studies (ISMS), Hanoi 10000, Vietnam)

Abstract

Background: This research examined differences in the utilisation of healthcare services and financial burden between and within insured and uninsured older persons and their households under the social health insurance scheme in Vietnam. Methods: We used nationally representative data from the Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey (VHLSS) conducted in 2014. We applied the World Health Organization (WHO)’s financial indicators in healthcare to provide cross-tabulations and comparisons for insured and uninsured older persons along with their individual and household characteristics (such as age groups, gender, ethnicity, per-capita household expenditure quintiles, and place of residence). Results: We found that social health insurance was beneficial to the insured in comparison with the uninsured in terms of utilization of healthcare services and financial burden. However, between and within these two groups, more vulnerable groups (i.e., ethnic minorities and rural persons) had lower utilization rates and higher rates of catastrophic spending than the better groups (i.e., Kinh and urban persons). Conclusion: Given the rapidly ageing population under low middle-income status and the “double burden of diseases”, this paper suggested that Vietnam reform the healthcare system and social health insurance so as to provide more equitable utilisation and financial protection to all older persons, including improving the quality of healthcare at the grassroots level and reducing the burden on the provincial/central health level; improving human resources for the grassroots healthcare facilities; encroaching public–private partnerships (PPPs) in the healthcare service provision; and developing a nationwide family doctor network.

Suggested Citation

  • Long Thanh Giang & Tham Hong Thi Pham & Phong Manh Phi & Nam Truong Nguyen, 2023. "Healthcare Services Utilisation and Financial Burden among Vietnamese Older People and Their Households," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:12:p:6097-:d:1168093
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yu Wang & Yan Jiang & Yang Li & Xiaojun Wang & Chi Ma & Shuangge Ma, 2013. "Health Insurance Utilization and Its Impact: Observations from the Middle-Aged and Elderly in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(12), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Ajay Tandon & Aparnaa Somanathan & Huong Lan Dao & Kari L. Hurt & Hernan L. Fuenzalida-Puelma, 2014. "Moving toward Universal Coverage of Social Health Insurance in Vietnam : Assessment and Options," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 18885.
    3. Ardeshir Sepehri & Sisira Sarma & Wayne Simpson, 2006. "Does non‐profit health insurance reduce financial burden? Evidence from the Vietnam living standards survey panel," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 15(6), pages 603-616, June.
    4. Likwang Chen & Winnie Yip & Ming‐Cheng Chang & Hui‐Sheng Lin & Shyh‐Dye Lee & Ya‐Ling Chiu & Yu‐Hsuan Lin, 2007. "The effects of Taiwan's National Health Insurance on access and health status of the elderly," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 16(3), pages 223-242, March.
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    6. Budi Aji & Manuela De Allegri & Aurelia Souares & Rainer Sauerborn, 2013. "The Impact of Health Insurance Programs on Out-of-Pocket Expenditures in Indonesia: An Increase or a Decrease?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-19, July.
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