Issuing a Decree on Health Services at the Commune, Ward, and Town Levels.

The government has just issued a Decree regulating health services at the commune, ward, and town levels, effective from January 31, 2015.

Accordingly, the commune/ward/town health organization (Commune Health Station) is a health unit belonging to the District/City/Provincial Health Center (District Health Center), established according to the administrative unit of the commune/ward/town (collectively referred to as commune).

The commune health station is responsible for providing and implementing primary healthcare services for the people in the commune.

The commune health station is responsible for carrying out professional and technical activities in: preventive medicine; medical examination and treatment, combining and applying traditional medicine in treatment and prevention; reproductive health care, supplying essential medicines; community health management; health education and communication according to the guidance of the superior management agency and the provisions of the law.

In addition, they provide professional and operational guidance to village and commune health workers; coordinate with relevant agencies to implement population and family planning work in the area; participate in inspecting private medical and pharmaceutical practices and services that may pose a risk to public health in the area;...

Community health workers

According to the Decree, those working at commune health stations are civil servants. The number of people working at commune health stations is included in the total number of people working at the district health center, determined by job positions based on the workload, in accordance with the needs and actual conditions of the locality and region.

Regarding the signing of employment contracts for staff at the commune health station, the regulations of the Law on Public Employees are as follows:

- Regarding the number of medical staff working at the Health Station according to Clause 1, Article 3 of Decision No. 58/TTg dated February 3, 1994, of the Prime Minister on the organization and policy regime for grassroots health care; and Article 2 of Decision No. 131/TTg dated March 4, 1995, of the Prime Minister amending some points in Decision No. 58/TTg dated February 3, 1994: The directly managing agency, organization, or unit is responsible for carrying out the procedures to sign indefinite-term employment contracts in accordance with the law if they meet all the conditions, requirements, and standards of the job position.

- Regarding the number of medical staff working at the Health Station according to Article 1 of Decision No. 131/TTg dated March 4, 1995 of the Prime Minister (under contract according to Decision No. 58/TTg):

+ Individuals who have completed 36 months of work at a commune health station (as of January 31, 2015), and meet the required standards of qualifications, professional expertise, and competence for the job position and professional title, may be considered for special recruitment in accordance with Point a, Clause 1, Article 14 of Government Decree 29/2012/ND-CP dated April 12, 2012, on the recruitment, use, and management of civil servants. The directly managing agency, organization, or unit is responsible for signing an indefinite-term employment contract in accordance with the law.

+ For cases where individuals have not completed 36 months of work at the Health Station (as of January 31, 2015), recruitment will be carried out according to the regulations of the Law on Public Employees.

- For civil servants recruited from January 31, 2015, the directly managing agency shall sign employment contracts in accordance with the Law on Civil Servants.

The decree takes effect from January 31, 2015.

According to Chinhphu.vn