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Public Health Insurance in Vietnam towards Universal Coverage: Identifying the challenges, issues, and problems in its design and organizational practices

Author

Listed:
  • Midori Matsushima

    (Assistant Professor, Osaka University of Commerce)

  • Hiroyuki Yamada

    (Assistant Professor, Osaka School of International Public Policy (OSIPP))

Abstract

Vietnam is attempting to achieve universal health insurance coverage by 2014. Despite great progress, the country faces some challenges, issues and problems. This paper reviewed official documents, existing reports, and related literature to address: (1) grand design for achieving universal health coverage, (2) current insurance coverage, (3) health insurance premium and subsidies by the government, (4) benefit package and payment rule, and (5) organizational practices. From the review, it became apparent that the insurance system is broadly speaking complex and there are huge ambiguities, which seems hindering universal coverage of health insurance. Also, hidden distorted incentives and lack of financial stability are the main challenges in the current public health insurance system in the country.

Suggested Citation

  • Midori Matsushima & Hiroyuki Yamada, 2013. "Public Health Insurance in Vietnam towards Universal Coverage: Identifying the challenges, issues, and problems in its design and organizational practices," OSIPP Discussion Paper 13E003, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.
    • Handle: RePEc:osp:wpaper:13e003
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    File URL: http://www.osipp.osaka-u.ac.jp/archives/DP/2013/DP2013E003.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul Gertler & Jonathan Gruber, 2002. "Insuring Consumption Against Illness," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(1), pages 51-70, March.
    2. 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.
    3. Adam Wagstaff, 2010. "Estimating health insurance impacts under unobserved heterogeneity: the case of Vietnam's health care fund for the poor," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 19(2), pages 189-208, February.
    4. Fwu‐Ranq Chang & Pravin K. Trivedi, 2003. "Economics of self‐medication: theory and evidence," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 12(9), pages 721-739, September.
    5. Wagstaff, Adam, 2005. "The economic consequences of health shocks," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3644, The World Bank.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yamada Hiroyuki & Vu Tien Manh, 2018. "Health Insurance Coverage and Firm Performance: Evidence Using Firm Level Data from Vietnam," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 18(4), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Grigorakis, Nikolaos & Floros, Christos & Tsangari, Haritini & Tsoukatos, Evangelos, 2016. "Out of pocket payments and social health insurance for private hospital care: Evidence from Greece," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(8), pages 948-959.
    3. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuong & Yme Van Den Berg & Tran Quang Huy & Do Anh Tai & Bui Nu Hoang Anh, 2021. "Determinants of catastrophic health expenditure in Vietnam," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(2), pages 316-333, March.
    4. Hideaki Kitaki, 2018. "Managing Technical Efficiency of Public and Private Hospitals in Vietnam: Do Market-Oriented Policies Matter?," Working Papers 163, JICA Research Institute.

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    Keywords

    Health Insurance; universal coverage; Vietnam;
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