In Vietnam social security claims for COVID 19 treatment require sick leave certificates that are delayed due to multiple and cumbersome procedures.
The Law on Social Insurance provides that an employee who falls ill and must temporarily leave work is entitled to a subsidy equal to 75 percent of the salary paid for social insurance in the preceding month. But their health examination results must be issued by a competent medical examination and treatment facility. Only then can it go to Vietnam Social Security for claims.
Last year tens of thousands of people who treated COVID 19 at home could not make a social insurance claim because ward medical centers only issued certificates of completion of isolation and treatment. It was eventually accepted by the VSS but the delay is exhausting people.
Many people give up claiming this sickness benefit because of the lengthy process to obtain documents. In addition, many patients opt for self-treatment in the fear of hospital overloads, so they are not eligible for health insurance benefits. Altogether health expenditure from out of pocket and the loss of sickness benefits generate a concerning financial burden to the infected people.
