Vietnam Medical Insurance

Vietnam is located in Southeastern Asia, bordering Laos, Cambodia, and China. It has a population of approximately 88.1 million and is divided into 58 provinces, covering an area of 329,560 square kilometres. The Vietnamese culturally divide their country into three main regions, the North, Centre and South, with Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City serving as the main cities in each region respectively. 75 percent of the Vietnamese population live in rural areas. Access to healthcare and medical facilities within these remote areas remain a serious concern.

The healthcare system in Vietnam was previously run entirely by the Government. There are now an increasing number of privately run hospitals and clinics. Some of the major hospitals provide medical services comparable to international standards, and employ English speaking medical professionals with appropriate medical training. Vietnamese Government subsidies cover approximately 20 percent of health care expenses, with the remaining amount paid by patients. Due to inadequate Government funding, there is a constant demand of health care facilities, staff, hospital beds and medicine.

Health status in Vietnam is generally reflected by socioeconomic factors. Healthcare facilities are limited outside the populated areas of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, therefore access to primary health care remains a problem for rural dwellers. Vietnam has serious challenges within their health care sector including the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. To address these problems, and increase equality of healthcare services, in 1992 the Government introduced compulsory and voluntary health insurance schemes and increased the allocation of funding to poor patients. This medical insurance policy is available in most hospitals, allowing poorer patients access to higher quality services at a lower cost. Although access to healthcare has improved, funding remains inadequate and is mostly unable to deliver quality healthcare services.

Epidemics of communicable diseases occur sporadically in Vietnam. Recent outbreaks include the H5N1 Avian influenza, also known as swine flu, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Of the 199 cases of swine flu confirmed to date in Vietnam, 59 have resulted in death. Vietnam was one of the first countries affected by the SARS outbreak and it was also one of the first countries to be removed from the World Health Organisation (WHO) list of SARS affected countries. Vaccinations are recommended for protection against Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Japanese encephalitis, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Tetanus-diphtheria.

Severe acute diarrhea cases are consistently reported within Vietnam and occasionally some of these are tested positive with Cholera infection. Cholera is transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Water treatment and sanitation practices remain inadequate in Vietnam, resulting in contamination of water that is therefore unsafe to drink. In more recent years, the incidence of Cholera cases have generally reduced and this is mainly due to 85% of the population now having adequate access to improved water sources.

Symptoms of cholera include severe diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever. In any severe diarrhea case, children in particular are at risk of rapid dehydration and therefore immediate medical attention is required. There are some cholera cases in Vietnam that have resulted in death, however these cases generally occur in rural areas where access to medical facilities are limited.

Expats living in Vietnam need to be aware of safe water practices in order to prevent transmission of cholera and other infections. Bottled water is generally recommended as the safest source of drinking water. Alternatively, water used for drinking, cooking and washing can be steralised through boiling or chlorination. Chlorine tablets can be purchased from most local Chemists.

On average, approximately 40-50 new cases of HIV infection are reported every day in Vietnam. The majority of these cases are among injecting drug users and female sex workers, however the general population, such as military recruits, are also commonly affected. There is also an association among the incidence of HIV infection and truck transportation routes. This is due to a trend in truck drivers having multiple sex partners while travelling on their transportation routes, spending long periods of time away from their families. A large number of women who live close to these truck stops resort to commercial sex. The HIV infection therefore spreads among truck drivers, sex workers as well as the families along these routes.

National Highway One is the main channel for transporting goods between North to South Vietnam. The National Highway One Project, funded by the Australian Government, was implemented in 1998 due to the association of HIV infection spread within these truck route areas. The aim of this project was to educate the public, and to try and change the behaviour of those associated with this trend. As part of the project, restaurant owners close to these transport routes were trained to distribute HIV awareness pamphlets, key rings and condoms.

Tuberculosis is a major health issue in Vietnam. Approximately 175,000 new cases are diagnosed per year, ranking 12th among the 22 countries affected by the disease. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS also increases the incidence of tuberculosis due to the impact of the disease on the human immune system. With an intensified vaccination program, better hygiene and foreign assistance, Vietnam hopes to reduce the number of tuberculosis cases and annual new infections.

Malaria is also a widespread problem in Vietnam, particularly within Central Highlands and some areas of the Mekong Delta. During the 1990s, Vietnam made significant progress in combating malaria, after the country introduced antimalarial drugs, precautionary methods and treatment. Prior to 2000, the incidence rate of malaria within Vietnam was approximately 4 cases per 1000 people. These numbers have now declined to approximately 0.25 cases per 1000 people. It is recommended that safety precautions are practiced when visiting areas affected by malaria.

It is important that you are fully insured, especially when travelling to areas that may require emergency evacuation, due to the limited medical services within the rural regions. As such expats in Vietnam are strongly encouraged to obtain some form of Vietnam medical insurance, to ensure ease of access to health and medical facilities, including transportation services.

Pedestrians should travel with caution due to unsafe driving practices, especially when crossing roads. The number of road traffic deaths in Vietnam have increased in recent years. In 1998, the total number of deaths per year in Vietnam was approximately 6000, whereas the number has increased significantly to 13,000 number of deaths per year.

Typhoons occasionally occur in Vietnam, typically between months from May to January. This can result in heavy flooding, particularly in the centre and northern area. During heavy flooding, water borne diseases increase as well as the incidence of malaria.

In the event of a serious illness or accident, emergency air transportation may be required to Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok for appropriate treatment.

Emergency protocols should be adopted by residents to avoid risk of injury during the event of an accident, serious illness or criminal event. To call an ambulance dial 1-1-5; police department dial 1-1-3; or fire service dial 1-1-4.

For more information about Vietnam medical insurance Plans, or to receive a free International Health Insurance Quote, please contact one of our dedicated advisers today.