Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) debated the draft Law on Elderly People last month, focusing on the provision of lower-cost services for the elderly and whether expatriates would be included within the scope of the law.
The draft law, which would replace the 2000 Ordinance on Elderly People, is expected to constitute a basic legal foundation for socializing the care given to the elderly and in enhancing their role in the society.
Most NASC members agreed with the provision in the draft law’s second article, defining senior citizens as persons aged 60 and older. However, some wondered whether the law should cover old foreign nationals living and working in Vietnam.
National Assembly vice chairman Uong Chu Luu noted that the current Ordinance on Elderly People placed elder expatriates under the jurisdiction of the law and supported the idea of including them within the scope of the new Law.
On the issue of reducing costs of services for the elderly, compared to the 2002 Ordinance, the draft Law grants more benefits. Specifically, elderly people would be entitled to reduction of charges for cultural, artistic, tourism, sports, recreation and transportation services. Besides, those without health insurance cards would be eligible for reduction of hospital fees.
However, some lawmakers expressed anxiety over the feasibility of the provisions, saying that material support must be given to the right people, particularly the poor.-