On 26/1, a representative from Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance (BHXH) announced a policy to ensure uninterrupted healthcare rights for residents as the city reorganizes its grassroots healthcare system. This year, 25 regional medical centers without inpatient beds in Ho Chi Minh City officially ceased operations. To prevent residents from being left without care or losing their benefits, the insurance agency proactively reviewed and automatically transferred the initial healthcare registration locations of these cardholders to larger or equivalent hospitals.

Residents receive medical examinations at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. *Quynh Tran*

Specifically, the automatic transfer list applies to individuals over 16 years old: residents in the Cho Lon area are transferred to An Binh Hospital or Nguyen Trai Hospital; those in the Hoa Hung area to Trung Vuong Hospital. Registrants from the Nhieu Loc area are moved to Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital (branch 2), and those from Can Gio to Tu Du Hospital (branch 2). Children under 16 are all transferred to Lanh Binh Thang Hospital.

During this transition, BHXH confirms that local healthcare services will continue as normal. Ward and commune health stations will still provide health insurance examinations and regular medication for patients with chronic conditions or those requiring long-term treatment. Polyclinics and specialty clinics that were part of the former medical centers will continue to admit patients and fully process health insurance benefits while awaiting re-issuance of their operating licenses.

According to regulations, health insurance participants can change their initial healthcare registration location during the first 15 days of each quarter (January, April, July, October). Residents can complete this free procedure through three channels: submitting documents directly at their local Social Insurance agency, via their employer, or online through the Vietnam Social Insurance Public Service Portal.

By Le Phuong