Vietnam's health insurance fund started covering HIV patients for anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs in March this year after international donors ended their sponsorship. Lê Văn Phúc, head of the pharmacy and medical supply department at Việt Nam Social Security talks to Thời Báo Kinh Tế Việt Nam (Việt Nam Economic Times). A HIV patient receives antiretroviral (ARV) covered by health insurance fund at Hà Nội's Nam Từ Liêm District healthcare centre. What has been prepared to ensure health insurance coverage for HIV treatment expenses? The health insurance fund along with other State budget sources have been contributing to ensuring HIV drug supplies. The health insurance fund has so far covered HIV opportunistic infections and other testing for HIV patients who hold health insurance cards. It is estimated that by the end of this year, about 48,000 HIV patients who hold health insurance cards will have their … [Read more...] about Health insurance coverage for ARV drug key to HIV treatment
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Investors step up M&A movements
The remainder of 2019 will be key for Vietnam to avail of longer-term investment possibilities, Photo: Le Toan Warrick Cleine, chairman and CEO of KPMG Vietnam, told VIR that they have seen tremendous confidence in Vietnam from large investors, especially from the likes of Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. The trend has expanded from the acquisition of 100 per cent or control of Vietnamese companies, such as the Sabeco deal from Thailand, to minority or strategic investments in large Vietnamese companies. These are often institutional investors, and their decisions reflect confidence in Vietnam’s overall macroeconomic and geopolitical state, and the management teams and business models of the specific companies. “Provided the global economy remains strong and Vietnam maintains its reform orientation, there is no reason investors will not continue to have the confidence to invest in Vietnam,” Cleine stressed. KPMG in particular expects to … [Read more...] about Investors step up M&A movements
Dai-ichi Life under fire over disputes
Dai-ichi Life under fire over disputes, illustration photo: webbaohiem.net Pham Thi Tham in the southern province of Kien Giang last month told the media that Dai-ichi Life refused to pay full insurance for her husband, who passed way last August. According to Tham, her husband’s death by electrocution was an accident and his family deserved the full payout of VND1 billion (nearly $43,500). “A lot of witnesses were there when my husband died and they can easily confirm my statement that it was an accident,” said Tham. “I can’t believe Dai-ichi Life required me to submit documents that were similar to a homicide case.” Tham referred to files such as autopsy results and crime scene reports, which cannot be obtained by any means from the local authorities because her husband was not killed. Without the additional documents, Dai-ichi Life only agreed to pay out half of the expected amount. In response to Tham’s accusations, the company said that … [Read more...] about Dai-ichi Life under fire over disputes
HCMC, Mekong delta link to make breakthrough in tourism
Additionally , provincial authorities should have mechanism to encourage travel agents to launch more unique tours, said HCMC Party Chief Nguyen Thien Nhan. Chairman of the People’s Committee in Bac Lieu Duong Thanh Trung said the Mekong delta tourism has not developed as expectation as the region falls short of specific destinations, tourist entertainment and strategies as well as mechanism to boost tourism. Sharing the same opinion, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee in Dong Thap Doan Tan Buu said that linkage between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 Mekong delta provinces and city for tourism growth is indispensable; however, the cooperation has not worked effectively for years. Determination to make breakthrough in tourism cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong delta region was manifested at the seminar organized in Ho Chi Minh before. Dong Thap leader believed the seminar as significant landmark for not only tourism development but also traffic … [Read more...] about HCMC, Mekong delta link to make breakthrough in tourism
NA leader wraps up official visits to Russia, Belarus
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan visits a Vietnamese language class in Minsk city on December 14 as part of her official visit to Belarus (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan arrived in Hanoi on December 15 morning, concluding official visits to Russia and Belarus from December 8 to 14. The Vietnamese delegation on the trip included Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu, along with some members of the NA Standing Committee and officials of several ministries, sectors and provinces. During the tour of Belarus from December 12 to 14, the top legislator met with President Alexander Lukashenko, held talks with Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova and Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Belarusian NA Vladimir Andreichenko, and had a meeting with Prime Minister Sergey Nikolayevich Rumas. She received leaders of the Communist Party of Belarus, … [Read more...] about NA leader wraps up official visits to Russia, Belarus