Statistics show that Hanoi is currently home to 18,500 people living with HIV/AIDS, including nearly 9,000 AIDS cases. The majority of them have poor living conditions and need help in treatment.
In an effort to help all people living with HIV access health insurance as directed by the Prime Minister, the department has asked localities to strengthen communications to encourage HIV-infected people and their family join health insurance.
It has also tasked supporting funds for HIV/AIDS prevention and control to mobilise resources to purchase health insurance for the needy, while coordinating with the municipal Centre for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control to ensure the supports go to right people.
Hanoi sets to expand health insurance coverage to 80 percent of local population by 2016 and 90 percent by 2020.
