16. ANALYSIS OF TREATMENT COSTS FOR RARE DISEASES THALASSEMIA AND HEMOPHILIA AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEMATOLOGY AND BLOOD TRANSFUSION AND HA DONG GENERAL HOSPITAL IN 2023
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objective: To analyze the treatment costs of Thalassemia and Hemophilia at both basic and specialized levels in order to estimate the financial burden associated with these rare diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study using 2023 health-insurance reimbursement data from the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) and Ha Dong General Hospital.
Results: The average inpatient cost per episode for Thalassemia at NIHBT was VND 8,426,852, lower than the VND 9,760,068 recorded at Ha Dong General Hospital. Corresponding outpatient costs were VND 3,452,519 and VND 3,267,405, respectively. Among Hemophilia patients treated at Ha Dong General Hospital, mean inpatient cost reached VND 16,920,358 per episode, while outpatient care cost only VND 39,345. Health insurance covered 95 – 100 % of total costs, yet patients at the provincial level still had to co-pay an average of VND 400,000 – 500,000 for each inpatient episode. The bulk of expenditures was concentrated on drugs, blood products, and infusions.
Conclusion: These findings reveal a substantial financial burden on patients with the rare diseases Thalassemia and Hemophilia. The amended Health Insurance Law (No. 51/2024/QH15), effective 1 January 2025, which mandates 100 % coverage at the basic level for both conditions, constitutes an important advance toward equity and the reduction of out-of-pocket costs for this patient group.
Article Details
Keywords
Thalassemia, Hemophilia, rare diseases, treatment cost, health insurance
References
[2] Quốc hội khoá XV (2024). Luật số 51/2024/QH15 ngày ngày 27 tháng 11 năm 2024 về việc Sửa đổi, bổ sung một số điều của Luật Bảo Hiểm Y Tế. .
[3] Bộ Y Tế (2025). Thông tư số 01/2025/TT-BYT ngày 10/01/2025 của Bộ Y tế: Quy định chi tiết và hướng dẫn thi hành một số điều của Luật Bảo hiểm y tế. .
[4] VietnamPlus (2021). Vietnam raises awareness about Thalassemia. Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus),
[5] Nhac-Vu H.-T., Tran V.T.-N., Nguyen T.-D.-T. và cộng sự. (2023). Economic burden of Thalassemia treatment: An analysis from the Vietnam Social Security perspective. PLoS One, 18(11), e0293916.
[6] VietnamPlus (2019). Health insurance - a lifebuoy for patients. Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus),
[7] Bảo Hiểm xã hội Việt Nam (2022). Health insurance assessment information system contributes to effective and transparent management of the health insurance fund.
[8] Bộ Y Tế - Cổng thông tin Bộ Y tế Bao phủ bảo hiểm y tế tăng nhanh và bền vững.
[9] Bảo Hiểm xã hội Việt Nam (2019). Chung tay đẩy lùi bệnh Tan máu bẩm sinh - Vì sức khỏe dòng máu Việt. baohiemxahoi.gov.vn,