Vietnam health security financing assessment

Abstract

Vietnam conducted a health security financing assessment using a tool developed by a regional technical task force. A very first effort, in the South East Asia region and beyond, to systematically analyze and gain insight into health security financing practices at the country level. The assessment had a dual purpose of pilot testing the tool and analyzing the current state of health security financing in Vietnam. --- The assessment was national in scope involving the central level and all the 63 provinces. The Joint External Evaluation (JEE) structure guided the mapping of stakeholders, identification of health security activities, and consolidation of health security expenditures. Health security specific and sensitive investments extracted from government and development partners financial statements and analyzed for the fiscal year 2016. Also, planning and budgeting processes, institutional arrangements, and key stakeholders involved in health security activities were reviewed. --- The health security financing analysis revealed that, in Vietnam, the government is the primary financer of health security activities. Annual budget allocations for recurrent, investment, and national target programs serve as the medium to transfer government funds to implementing agencies. Besides, during times of epidemic outbreaks, additional government funds can be accessed, such as contingency funds, budget reserves, financial reserves, and national reserves (strategic stockpiles). Total health security expenditure, including for central and provincial levels, in 2016, was estimated at VND 3,994 billion (equivalent to US$181.2 million). Total per capita expenditure amounted to VND 42,7572 (equivalent to US$1.94), while the total health security expenditure was 0.09% of gross domestic product (GDP), and 0.29% of the total government expenditure...