(Illustrative photo from tuyengiao.vn)

Speaking at a conference to review the care of the elderly in 2020 and implement tasks in 2021 on Friday in Hanoi, Mr. Dam said that health insurance support for policy beneficiaries and people with meritorious services has been implemented well across the country. However, he added, there are still 5% of the elderly of poor households who do not have health insurance.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said, “In 2021 and the following years, efforts should be made to distribute the state resources for policy beneficiaries and social protection, including elderly people. Resources must be allocated effectively.”

“Direct assistance must be reduced. People will be helped to do business and this assistance needs to be incorporated in hunger eradication and poverty alleviation projects and building new rural area projects. Disadvantaged people will receive help via insurance programs. This will be one of the main points of the 10-year elderly program,” according to Mr. Dam.

Vietnam  now has more than 11 million elderly people, accounting for 12% of the population. Of them, nearly 2 million are 80 year old or more, accounting for 17% of the total number of elderly people. Nearly 8% of the elderly live in rural areas.