Social security law strives for healthcare equality

Media personnel from newspapers, radio and television were briefed in Vientiane yesterday on publicising the Law on Social Security to the public in the interests of promoting healthcare equality.
Under the Law on Social Security, critically injured or sick insured people are entitled to admission for treatment at selected hospitals without paying any bills, and to receive compensation equivalent to half of the insured’s wages, an official said.
During the media workshop on the Dissemination of the Law on Social Security, Director General of the Legislation Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Vanhsay Taviyanh, highlighted important features of the law.
He admitted that some members of the National Social Security Fund had complained about the poor service they had received at hospitals.
The workshop discussed health services and treatment and reviewed some patients’ dissatisfaction with the care received as well as the attitude of some hospital staff. Deputy Director General of the NSSF, Mr Phetsamone Soukthaviphone, said all members are eligible for health checks and treatment through the Fund under the Law on Social Security.
He said the benefits of membership include the provision of funds to pay for childbirth, workplace injuries and illnesses, old-age pensions, funeral costs, surviving family benefits, and unemployment benefits.
“Everyone should be treated equally, whether they are members of the National Social Security Fund or not. They should all receive the same standard of treatment, in line with the government’s health policy,” he added.
The respective social security organisations for the public and private sectors have been merged by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare into the NSSF.
Articles 55 and 56 of the Social Security Law, enacted in 2013, require non-government employers to contribute 6 percent of an employee’s monthly salary to the fund, with a further 5.5 percent to be contributed by insured employees.
In practice, the 5.5 percent employee contribution should be deducted from an employee’s salary and be paid by the employer to the fund.
Government employees will have 8.5 percent of their monthly salary contributed to the NSSF by the government and are required to make an additional contribution of 8 percent themselves.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update September 27, 2019)