Health insurance has covered just 90 percent of students in Ho Chi Minh City, compared to the target of 98 percent set by the municipal People’s Committee.

Student medical insurance has yet to reach the target coverage of 98 per cent of all students set by the HCM City People’s Committee. 

Nguyen Thi Thu, deputy chairwoman of Vietnam Social Security’s HCM City Office, said the city had 1,159 schools from primary school to university, with 1.7 million students.

The agency is working with the city’s Department of Education and Training and schools to inform students and parents of the benefits of health insurance.

According to the agency, 90 percent of students in primary school have health insurance, while the number in secondary school, high school, and university is 91.4 percent, 71.4 percent and 82 percent, respectively.

The ratio of students buying medical insurance is still low, especially at private universities such as Hong Bang International University (39 percent), and Hoa Sen University (33 percent).

The target ratio of medical insurance for families has also not been met.

According to the agency’s figures in the first nine months, the city reached 83 percent of the target, with a total of 6.9 million residents.  The aim is to have 90 percent of residents covered by medical insurance.-VNA