Ministry of Health reorganizes health facilities according to 2-level local government model

The Government has just issued Resolution No. 74/NQ-CP promulgating the Plan to implement the arrangement of administrative units and build a model of organizing two-level local government.

Faced with the above situation, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan chaired an online meeting to develop guidelines for the arrangement and reorganization of medical facilities in administrative units after the arrangement and reorganization according to the 2-level local government organization model.

The Ministry of Health will reorganize and rearrange medical facilities but will not leave any gaps in public health care.

Lean motto, but improve quality

The meeting took place on April 10 to develop guidelines for the arrangement and reorganization of medical facilities in administrative units after the arrangement and reorganization according to the 2-level local government organization model connecting the Ministry of Health with 63 Department of Health connection points of provinces and cities.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that on April 7, the Government issued Resolution No. 74/NQ-CP promulgating the Plan to implement the arrangement of administrative units and build a model of organizing two-level local governments. The purpose of the Plan is to thoroughly grasp and seriously and effectively implement Conclusion No. 127-KL/TW, Conclusion No. 130-KL/TW, Conclusion No. 137-KL/TW and Official Dispatch No. 43-CV/BCĐ on the Plan to continue arranging the apparatus of the political system to create unity in the awareness and actions of cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers in agencies, organizations and units at the Central level and local governments at all levels; creating consensus and support from the people and public opinion.

The Ministry of Health clearly defines the roadmap and tasks to be performed at each time, ensuring that they are consistent with reality in order to successfully implement the goals, requirements, tasks, and solutions stated in the Conclusions of the Politburo and the Secretariat.

According to the Minister of Health, to carry out the above tasks, the Ministry has drafted the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of the grassroots health system in building a two-level local government organization model. Currently, the draft guidance on job positions, functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the grassroots health system is being widely consulted in health units. The draft reflects the motto of streamlining, improving the quality, and operating effectively of the health system in performing its tasks.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Son, Director of the Department of Organization and Personnel (Ministry of Health) informed about the draft guidelines on arranging and reorganizing medical facilities in administrative units implementing the 2-level local government organization model.

Representatives of the Department of Health of many provinces and cities: Lai Chau, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Thap, Nghe An... and a number of provinces and cities have exchanged, proposed and discussed the draft guidelines on the arrangement and reorganization of medical facilities in administrative units implementing the 2-level local government organization model of the Ministry of Health.

Establishment of grassroots health stations

Minister Dao Hong Lan acknowledged and appreciated the opinions of localities towards the goal of ensuring the stability, effectiveness and efficiency of the entire health system in accordance with the general practical situation nationwide. Based on the comments of localities, the Ministry of Health will finalize the proposed guidelines this week and will send a report to the Central Steering Committee and the Government.

The Minister of Health emphasized the general spirit of implementing the apparatus arrangement without affecting the performance of functions and tasks, especially in medical examination and treatment, and epidemic prevention; not leaving gaps in the performance of tasks but ensuring continuous service to people's health care with the requirement of increasingly better service.

In the draft guidelines of the Ministry of Health, the contents of maintaining and establishing grassroots health stations (commune and ward levels) are public service units providing services in areas under the management of the health sector in communes and wards.

Accordingly, commune and ward health stations are public health service units, directly under the People's Committee at the grassroots level (commune and ward level) (or directly under the Department of Health); commune and ward health stations have legal status, have their own headquarters, seals, and accounts opened at the State Treasury and banks according to the provisions of law.

Each commune and ward is established with at least one commune and ward health station depending on the population size, natural area, geographical characteristics, and socio-economic situation of the communes and wards.

Commune and ward health stations have the function of providing professional and technical services in disease prevention, medical examination and treatment, rehabilitation, health care for mothers and children, the elderly, ensuring food safety; providing medicines, vaccines, basic medical equipment, population services, social protection, social assistance and other medical services according to the provisions of law in the area.

The leadership of the commune health station consists of a station chief and 1 deputy station chief. The appointment, reappointment, transfer, rotation, dismissal, and resignation of the positions of station chief and deputy head of commune and ward health stations shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of law and the management decentralization of the province and city.

Job positions at commune and ward health stations include: doctors, general practitioners (2-3 people); public health, social work (social assistance); nurses (grade III, grade IV); midwives (grade III, grade IV); medical technicians (grade III, grade IV); pharmacists, medical equipment; administrative and office staff.

The number of employees of commune and ward health stations is determined based on job positions according to functions, tasks, and scope of operations of the health station assigned or approved by competent authorities.

Based on functions, tasks, and job position lists, every year, commune and ward health stations develop a plan for the number of employees and report to competent authorities for consideration and decision in accordance with the provisions of law.

Financial sources for the operation of commune and ward health stations include: state budget; revenue from career activities; aid, support, and sponsorship sources according to the provisions of law; other revenue sources according to the provisions of law (if any).