(Chinhphu.vn) - In the opinion of Tien Giang voters, the Ministry of Health eliminates the list of health insurance drugs according to the Circular No. 40/2014 / TT-BYT, causing disadvantages for health insurance participants, especially those who have purchased health insurance for 5 years or more. up, affecting the effectiveness of universal health insurance operations.

Voters suggest that the Ministry of Health coordinate with Vietnam Social Insurance to review to ensure benefits for people participating in health insurance.

Regarding this issue, The Ministry of Health replies to voters as follow

In order to better meet the treatment needs of patients, currently, the Ministry of Health is cooperating with Vietnam Social Insurance and related units to review and update new information to fix change and supplement the Circular No. 40/2014 / TT-BYT dated November 17, 2014, promulgating the list of new medicines under the scope of benefits of health insurance participants. In addition to members of the Drafting Committee, Editorial Team, the amendment of the Circular also involves the participation of specialized advisory committees (with the participation of more than 100 leading experts of specialties).

The above reviews, updates, amendments and supplements are made on the following principles: The drugs considered to be removed from the list include:

- The drug is no longer circulated in Vietnam;

- Drugs on the list of recommended drugs should not be used as recommended by the World Health Organization, Ministry of Health of Vietnam, prestigious medical and pharmaceutical associations in the world, Drug Administration of countries;

- The drug has no evidence of clinical efficacy;

- The drug has a warning about safety;

- The active ingredient combination drug is not circulated in 9 reference countries in the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, and the European Drug Administration ( These are countries with very strict drug review procedures, selected by the Ministry of Health as reference countries when considering the number of drug circulation registration numbers).

The consideration of removing drugs according to the above criteria out of the list is necessary, in line with the professionalism and recommendations of the World Health Organization; It is unified and agreed by members of the Drafting Committee and experts, and at the same time, to ensure the safety of people's health when taking drugs.

Regarding the amendment of the Circular 40/2014 / TT-BYT, not only consider removing drugs from the list, the Drafting Committee, the Editorial Team and professional advisory sub-committees also consider supplementing and updating update new drugs as well as expanding drugs for provincial specialized hospitals such as tuberculosis, mental health, oncology and commune health stations; consideration  of expanding payment conditions for some drugs.