The Ministry of Health guides the functions, tasks and powers of specialized health agencies at the provincial and communal levels.

Functions, tasks and powers of the Department of Health

According to Circular 20/2025/TT-BYT,Health serviceis a specialized agency under the provincial People's Committee, has legal status, its own seal and account according to the provisions of law. The Department of Health is under the direction and management of the provincial People's Committee in terms of organization, staffing and operation; at the same time, is under the direction, inspection and guidance on expertise and profession of the Ministry of Health.

The Department of Health has the function of advising and assisting the Provincial People's Committee in state management of the health sector, including: preventive medicine; medical examination, treatment, rehabilitation; medical examination, forensic medicine, forensic psychiatry; mothers and children; population; prevention and control of social evils (excluding drug addiction treatment and post-drug addiction treatment management); management and use of the Children's Protection Fund; social protection; traditional medicine and pharmacy; pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; food safety; medical equipment; health insurance in accordance with the law.

The Ministry of Health stipulates that the Department of Health has 30 tasks and powers. In particular, the Department of Health submits to the Provincial People's Committee draft resolutions of the Provincial People's Council, draft decisions of the Provincial People's Committee related to the fields under the management of the Department of Health and other documents as assigned by the Provincial People's Committee; draft plans, programs, projects, and measures to organize the implementation of tasks on the development of sectors and fields in the area under the management of the Department of Health.

Draft decision specifying the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Department of Health; draft decision specifying the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the branches and public service units under the Department of Health;

Draft decision on implementing socialization of public service provision activities in the health sector under the authority of the Provincial People's Committee; draft decision on decentralization and delegation of tasks within the state management scope of the Department of Health according to the provisions of law.

The Department of Health submits to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee draft documents under the authority of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee as assigned; the Department of Health organizes the implementation of legal documents, strategies, planning, plans, programs, projects and other documents on the health sector after approval; provides information, propaganda, guidance, dissemination, legal education and monitors law enforcement in areas under the state management of the Department of Health.

Organize the appraisal, issuance, re-issuance, extension, adjustment, suspension, and revocation of licenses, certificates, and confirmations under the management authority of the Department of Health according to assignment, decentralization, and regulations of law. Implement management and supervision of the quality of services, products, and goods under the state management scope of the Department of Health according to regulations of law.

At the same time, the Department of Health performs tasks in the following areas: Preventive medicine; Medical examination, treatment, rehabilitation; Medical examination, forensic examination, forensic psychiatric examination; Mothers and children; Population; Social protection and prevention of social evils; Traditional medicine and pharmacy; Pharmacy and cosmetics; Food safety; Medical equipment and medical works; Health insurance; Training, fostering, and developing medical human resources; Communication, providing medical information...

Medical professional agency under the People's Committee at commune level

Also according to Circular 20/2025/TT-BYT, the Department of Culture and Society is a specialized agency under the People's Committee at the commune level, advising and assisting the People's Committee at the commune level in performing state management in the field ofmedicaland other fields as prescribed by law.

The Department of Culture and Society is under the direction and management of the People's Committee at the commune level in terms of organization, job positions, civil servant payroll, civil servant rank structure and work; at the same time, it is under the direction, inspection and professional guidance in the medical field of the Department of Health.

The Department of Culture and Society advises and assists the People's Committee at the commune level in performing state management in the health sector, including: preventive medicine; medical examination, treatment, rehabilitation; mothers and children; population; prevention and control of social evils (excluding drug addiction treatment and post-drug addiction treatment management); social protection; traditional medicine and pharmacy; pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; food safety; medical equipment; health insurance and other local areas in accordance with the provisions of law.

Duties, powers, submit to the People's Committee at the commune level: Draft resolutions of the People's Council at the commune level (if any); draft decisions of the People's Committee at the commune level related to the health sector as assigned by the People's Committee at the commune level; Draft plans for health sector development; programs and measures to organize the implementation of health sector tasks in the commune level within the scope of management of the Department of Culture and Society; Participate in drafting decisions specifying the functions, duties, powers and organizational structure of the Department of Culture and Society.

Organize the implementation of legal documents, planning and plans after approval; provide information, propaganda, dissemination, legal education and monitor law enforcement in the health sector.

Assist the People's Committee at the commune level in implementing and taking responsibility for the appraisal, registration, issuance of licenses, certificates and equivalent documents in the medical field within the scope of responsibility and authority of the Department of Culture and Society according to the provisions of law and assignment of the People's Committee at the commune level.

Assist the People's Committee at the commune level in state management of collective economic organizations, private economic organizations; associations and non-governmental organizations operating in the health sector in the locality according to the provisions of law.

Organize the application of scientific and technological advances and innovation, creativity, and digital transformation in the health sector; implement administrative reform contents; build information and storage systems to serve state management in the health sector and professional expertise of the Department of Culture and Society.

Inspect and handle violations in the implementation of legal regulations, professional regulations, and technical standards in the health sector for organizations and individuals in the area; receive citizens, resolve complaints and denunciations; prevent corruption, waste, and negativity according to the provisions of law and as assigned by the People's Committee at the commune level.

Carry out statistical work, build a database on the health sector in the area; provide information, periodic reports and ad hoc reports on the implementation of assigned tasks according to regulations of the People's Committee at the commune level and the Department of Health.

Manage the organizational structure, civil servant payroll, civil servant ranks and civil servant ranks, job positions, staff structure according to professional titles and the number of employees in public health service units; implement salary regimes and policies, treatment regimes, training, fostering, rewards and disciplines for civil servants, public employees and workers under the scope of management according to the provisions of law, according to the assignment of the People's Committee at the commune level.

Manage and be responsible for the finances and assets of the Department of Culture and Society according to the provisions of law. Perform other tasks and powers according to the decentralization, authorization, and division of authority of competent agencies according to the provisions of law. Perform other tasks assigned by the People's Committee of the commune according to the provisions of law./.