Highlights of Insurance and Healthcare Documents of the Past Week

1. Guidance on the Storage of Specially Controlled Drugs

The Ministry of Health issued Circular 20/2017/TT-BYT to guide the Pharmaceutical Law and Decree 54/2017/ND-CP on drugs and pharmaceutical materials that need special control.

Drugs and materials that require special control must be stored as follows:

- Narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursor drugs, pharmaceutical materials that are narcotic substances, psychotropic substances, and precursors for drugs:- Stored in separate, securely locked warehouses and cabinets; must not be stored together with other drugs and materials;- If a separate cabinet is not available, narcotic drugs can be stored in the same cabinet, shelf, or rack with psychotropic drugs and precursors, but each type must be arranged separately, with clear labels to avoid confusion;- Combination drugs containing narcotic substances, psychotropic substances, or precursors: Must be stored in a separate area, not together with other drugs;- Radiopharmaceuticals: Stored in securely locked warehouses and cabinets, ensuring radiation safety and security, preventing environmental radiation exposure;- Toxic drugs and toxic materials for drugs: Stored in a separate area, not together with other drugs, neatly arranged, easily observable to avoid confusion.

Circular 20/2017/TT-BYT is effective from July 01, 2017, replacing Circular 19/2014/TT-BYT.

1. BHYT Benefit Regime for Relatives of Workers, Public Employee QP

According to Vietnam Social Security's directive in Official Dispatch 2821/BHXH-CSYT dated July 07, 2017, while awaiting the issuance of the amendment guidance document for Decision 1351/QD-BHXH dated November 16, 2015, relatives of workers, and public employees in Defense are entitled to the following benefits:

- The BHYT fund covers 80% of the medical examination and treatment (KCB) costs within the BHYT coverage scope (with a specific payment ratio for certain drugs, chemicals, medical supplies, and technical services as regulated by the Minister of Health);- 100% coverage of KCB costs at the commune level and costs for a single KCB session that is less than 15% of the monthly statutory pay rate.

The Ministry of Defense's Social Insurance is responsible for guiding the collection and issuance of BHYT cards to the above-mentioned beneficiary group similar to the relatives of officers, professional soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and conscripted soldiers serving in the military.

1. Support for Social Insurance Payment for Military Enterprises with Pre-retirement Soldiers

According to Circular 182/2017/TT-BQP, military enterprises (DN) are supported in paying monthly wages and social insurance contributions for officers and professional soldiers during the pre-retirement period as follows:

- 100% funding support for national defense and security enterprises in the military as specified in Decree 93/2015/ND-CP;- Up to 70% funding support for economic-defense enterprises with military organizational structures; tasked with reserve mobilization; performing duties in strategic areas for national defense and security if business operations suffer losses.

The support period is from January 01, 2016, to December 31, 2020.

Circular 182/2017/TT-BQP is effective from September 18, 2017.

1. Implementation of Social Insurance, Health Insurance Collection and Purchase at Local Post Offices

This is the main content of Official Dispatch 3116/BHXH-BT dated July 24, 2017, from Vietnam Social Security on implementing the collection of social insurance (BHXH) and health insurance (BHYT) through the postal system. Accordingly:

- Provincial Social Insurance cooperates with Provincial Post Offices to organize and sign agent contracts for collecting BHXH, BHYT, and providing public services according to the contract template between Vietnam Social Security and Vietnam Post Corporation;- Train, foster, and conduct training on the procedures and professional knowledge for collecting, issuing BHXH books, BHYT cards to postal staff, and issuing agent staff cards to those who have completed training, fostering sessions in compliance with Decision 1599/QD-BHXH;- Provide signage for BHXH, BHYT collection points to display at transaction points in communes, wards, and commune-level towns.

Notably, Thu Ky Luat has updated two Regulations issued by the Central Executive Committee regarding position standards and criteria for evaluating officials such as:

1. Regulation 89-QD/TW dated August 04, 2017, on the framework of position standards, and orientation for criteria for evaluating leadership and management officials at all levels;
2. Regulation 90-QD/TW dated August 04, 2017, on the standards for positions and criteria for evaluating officials under the Central Executive Committee, Politburo, Secretariat management.

Video summary of notable Insurance – Health documents

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