Vietnam: How is the medical support for human trafficking victims regulated?

According to Decree No. 09/2013/ND-CP of Vietnam’s Government, medical support recipients include victims during their stay in social protection establishments or victim support establishments. Medical support for human trafficking victims is specified as follows:

- Medical supports include medical examination and treatment expenses.

- During their stay at the social protection establishments or victim support establishments, the victims are entitled to health care for health recovery. If the victims are seriously ill and must be transferred to a medical establishment for treatment, they or their families shall themselves pay medical examination and treatment expenses.

- For victims of poor households, households living just above the poverty line or policy- benefiting families under the Ordinance on Preferential Treatment for Persons with Meritorious Services to the Revolution, and juvenile victims, victim support establishments shall support medical examination and treatment expenses at the level equal to that covered by the medical insurance fund for these eligible groups. For victims without relatives, victim support establishments shall support medical examination and treatment expenses at the level equal to that covered by the medical insurance fund for members of poor households.

- For victims with unexpired health insurance cards, the health insurance fund shall pay medical examination and treatment expenses for them in accordance with the health insurance law.

- In case the victims die during their stay in social protection establishments or victim support establishments, 24 (twenty-four) hours after the competent agencies’ conclusions are made, if the victims’ relatives cannot come in time or cannot afford funeral expenses, the social protection establishments or victim support establishments shall organize funerals for them. The forensic examination and funeral expenses comply with regulations applicable to subjects in social protection establishments.

Note: Pursuant to regulations and depending on local practical conditions, social protection establishments and victim support establishments shall make annual medical support expense estimates and submit them to the competent authorities for approval.

View more details at Decree No. 09/2013/ND-CP of Vietnam’s Government, effective from April 15, 2013.

Ty Na

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