Viet Nam, Denmark renew partnership on sustainable health insurance

The renewed partnership comes as Viet Nam faces a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes and obesity, which require better use of health data to understand disease trends, forecast future healthcare needs and allocate resources more effectively.

Under the new phase of cooperation, the two sides will expand collaboration in health economics, digital health and the use of health data to support evidence-based policymaking, healthcare planning and the long-term sustainability of the health insurance system.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Lasse Pedersen Hjortshøj, Counsellor at the Embassy of Denmark in Viet Nam, said universal health coverage and sustainable healthcare financing remain shared priorities for both countries.

"Ensuring sustainable healthcare financing and equitable access to quality care require continuous innovation, strong partnerships and evidence-based policymaking. Through this new phase of our cooperation, we are pleased to share Denmark's experience with Vietnam and work together to transform data into better policy, more effective use of healthcare resources, and ultimately better outcomes for patients," he said.

Entering its fifth phase since the partnership began in 2018, the cooperation will include policy dialogue, professional exchanges, capacity building and technical collaboration, with greater emphasis on data-driven analysis of disease burden, long-term health-economic assessments and value-based payment approaches.

Over the past eight years, the partnership has supported nationwide training programs, technical exchanges and study visits aimed at strengthening Vietnam's health insurance system. More than 1,900 health insurance assessment officers have participated in training activities related to NCD management.

The renewed MoU will continue to support professional training and policy dialogue while broadening cooperation in sustainable healthcare financing, digital health and data-informed policymaking.

The partnership also benefits from the technical expertise of Novo Nordisk, which supports knowledge sharing and the exchange of international best practices in NCD prevention and management.

Sule Erdim Ersoy, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Viet Nam, said the company is committed to supporting scientific dialogue, policy exchange, professional training and data-driven approaches that can improve disease management, health financing and long-term system sustainability.

By combining Denmark's experience in digital health, health data and metabolic disease management with Viet Nam's ongoing healthcare reforms, the new phase of cooperation aims to provide policymakers with stronger evidence for decision-making, improve patient outcomes and build a health insurance system that remains accessible and sustainable for future generations.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Embassy of Denmark in Viet Nam and VSS signed in 2018 provided a framework for strategic cooperation in health insurance. Key areas of cooperation include health insurance policy development, NCD management, health economics and financing, digital health, capacity building, and the use of data and evidence to support healthcare decision-making. The 2026 – 2028 Memorandum marks the fifth phase of this long-standing partnership./.