In order to promote non-cash payments in the healthcare areas in line with Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP and Decision No. 241/QD-TTg of the Government, over the past time, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has proactively acquired information on the practical situtations and closely coordinated with the Ministry of Health, and directed commercial banks and intermediary payment service providers to supply products, services and payment solutions which are suitable to the IT infrastructure and the specific features of the healthcare sector.
Speaking at a Conference which was organized on September 20, 2019 by the Ministry of Health, Deputy Governor Nguyen Kim Anh shared that the SBV has set out the guiding directions for the provision of payment services in healthcare, which are readiness, empathy and sharing.
An overview of the Conference
The SBV Deputy Governor also emphasized that the SBV’s mentioned-above guiding directions have been disseminated throughout the whole banking industry by requiring commercial banks and intermediary payment service providers to implement specific activities, such as: (i) developing technology infrastructures, setting up softwares for fast and convenient information exchanges with the hospitals; (ii) applying the technologies, renovating the operational procedures to provide modern payment products and services (e-wallet, QR code, 24/7 online money transfer,...); (iii) studying, applying preferencial policies on payment fees; lauching promotion programs to change customers’ behaviors and habits when paying for healthcare services.
The SBV has also directed the SBV municipal and provincial branches to actively advise the local People’s Commitees and coordinate with the provincial departments and agencies in their locations to apply non-cash payment solutions; at the same time, the SBV has requested commercial banks and intermediary payment service providers to actively coordinate with the medical facilities and other relevant agencies to accept cashless payments.
Deputy Governor Nguyen Kim Anh shared that the SBV woud contine to go along with the Ministry of Health to enhance the experience and satisfaction of the people when paying hospital fees, helping to reduce the time of physical queuing for payments, thereby contributing to improving the quality of health examination and treatment services.
The SBV Deputy Governor added that the issuance of the QR code standards for the healthcare areas is an opportunity for commercial banks and intermediary payment service providers to easily integrate their systems, to connect and exchange information, as well as to seek oppotunities for cooperating with hospitals and healthcare facilities in order to meet the demand of paying healthcare fees, helping hospitals to concentrate on improving the quality of health examination and treatment services through non-cash payment services.
Le Hang