Proposal to supplement the health insurance policy for rabies patients in Vietnam

Proposal to supplement the health insurance policy for rabies patients in Vietnam (Internet image)

On April 21, 2023, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued Directive 11/CT-TTg on strengthening urgent measures to prevent and control rabies.

Proposal to supplement the health insurance policy for rabies patients in Vietnam

The Prime Minister of Vietnam requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Health to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, branches, and localities in, proposing to competent authorities to support rabies vaccines and anti-rabies serum for preventive treatment for the poor in ethnic minority areas, remote areas, and extremely difficult areas; supplement health insurance policies for people bitten by dogs.

In addition, in order to improve the effectiveness of rabies prevention and control, reduce and move towards zero deaths from rabies, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Health also focus on the following contents:

- Issue documents to direct and guide localities in developing specific plans to actively prevent and control rabies; organize the implementation of technical solutions to quickly control rabies according to the objectives set out in the National Program.

- Prioritize allocating resources and funding to actively and effectively implement activities of the National Program, communication campaigns on measures to prevent and control rabies in the central media. (such as VTV, VOV, Nhan Dan Newspaper, Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, etc.) to enhance the responsibility of dog owners to the community.

- Strengthen surveillance and detection of rabies cases with the support and participation of the community in the direction of the "One Health" approach, with close coordination of the veterinary and health sectors, to ensure compliance with the provisions of the law.

- Organize professional training for veterinary and preventive medicine staff to improve their skills in monitoring, risk assessment, investigation, and handling of rabies outbreaks.

- Direct specialized agencies to strengthen research, coordinate with enterprises to produce rabies vaccines, proactively supply domestic vaccines, and reduce vaccine product costs.

- Actively coordinate with international organizations and countries in sharing and supporting Vietnam in rabies prevention and control...

Strengthening the application of sanctions to handle violations of regulations on rabies vaccination in Vietnam

Specifically, the Chairman of the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities increased the application of sanctions to handle violations of regulations on dog breeding and rabies vaccination as prescribed in Decree 90/2017/ND-CP.

Thereby, inspect and strictly handle administrative violations against organizations and individuals that use unrecognized methods or drugs that have not been allowed to be circulated to examine and treat people with rabies or people bitten by dogs or cats.

In addition, the Prime Minister of Vietnam also requested the following contents:

- Direct People's Committees at all levels to proactively coordinate with specialized veterinary management agencies to organize rabies vaccination for dogs and cats, ensuring a vaccination rate of over 70% of the total herd in the period of 2023–2025 and over 80% in the period of 2026–2030; regularly review, supplement vaccination, and avoid missing the subjects required vaccines.

- Direct medical and veterinary professional units to promptly share information when detecting or receiving information about cases of people being bitten by dogs or cats with rabies disease or suspected of having rabies; organize the investigation, determine the causes, and implement solutions for disease prevention and control according to regulations.

- Ensure access to human rabies vaccines, disseminate the addresses of rabies vaccination points, and communicate to guide people bitten by dogs and cats to medical facilities for timely preventive treatment.

- Direct, review, and organize the construction of rabies-free zones, especially in tourist areas, cities, towns, and densely populated areas.

- Issue documents directing People's Committees at all levels and relevant departments and branches to implement specific activities, suitable to the actual situation of the locality; regularly urge and inspect the observance of the law on human and animal rabies prevention and control.

The heads of the People's Committees at all levels are fully responsible for directing and organizing the effective implementation of rabies prevention and control measures; handling irresponsible cadres and civil servants, loose management...

More details can be found in Directive 11/CT-TTg dated April 21, 2023.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE