Proposal to increase the amount of money and gifts for longevity wishes and birthday celebrations for the elderly

The elderly will receive increased longevity gifts. Photo courtesy

According to current regulations in Circular 21/2011/TT-BTC, the level of gifts to congratulate and celebrate the longevity of the elderly is as follows: The 100-year-old elderly person will be congratulated by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and given a gift including 5 meters of silk fabric and 500,000 VND in cash.

The 90-year-old senior citizen received longevity wishes from the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-run city and gifts including 100,000 VND worth of goods and 300,000 VND in cash.

For this content, the draft proposes the following increase: The 100-year-old elderly person will be congratulated by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and given a gift of 5 meters of silk fabric and VND 700,000 in cash.

The 90-year-old senior citizen received longevity wishes from the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-run city and gifts including 150,000 VND worth of goods and 500,000 VND in cash.

The above expenditure level is the minimum level. Based on the ability to balance the local budget and the actual situation, the People's Council of the province or centrally-run city may consider and decide on a higher expenditure level than this prescribed level.

Primary health care for the elderly at their place of residence

The draft clearly states that commune, ward and town health stations are responsible for providing primary health care for the elderly at their place of residence, and are guaranteed funding from the local budget to spend on the following activities: Propagating and disseminating general knowledge about health care; instructing the elderly on disease prevention, treatment and self-care skills.

Expenses for purchasing documents, books, and newspapers related to elderly health care. Payment levels are based on actual expenses incurred based on estimates approved by competent authorities.

Expenses for organizing periodic health check-ups for the elderly: Commune health stations plan and coordinate with higher-level medical examination and treatment facilities to organize periodic health check-ups for the elderly in the locality according to the professional guidance of the Ministry of Health. The cost of conducting periodic health check-ups for the elderly is guaranteed by the local budget in the annual estimates of agencies and units assigned to perform health check-ups for the elderly according to the decentralization of medical expertise and the local budget.

The People's Committees of communes, wards and towns are responsible for supporting travel expenses for medical staff and lonely elderly people or those with serious illnesses to medical examination and treatment facilities at the request of the commune health station.