Circular No. 07/2013/TT-BYT stipulates the standards, functions, and duties of village health workers.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on standards, functions, and tasks of village health workers

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This Circular prescribes procedures for receiving, providing health care for domestic violence victims and statistical reports on domestic violence victims at medical facilities.

Based on Decision No. 153/2006/QĐ-TTg dated June 30, 2006, of the Prime Minister approving the overall planning for the development of the healthcare system in Vietnam for the period 2010 to 2020;

Based on Decision No. 75/2009/QĐ-TTg dated May 11, 2009, of the Prime Minister regarding the allowance system for village health workers;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Organization and Cadres, the Director of the Department of Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health;

The Minister of Health issues this Circular regulating the standards, functions, and tasks of village health workers.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular regulates the standards, functions, and tasks of village health workers, hamlets, villages, tribes, and settlements (hereinafter referred to as village health workers).

Article 2. Village health workers include:

a) Village health workers engaged in primary healthcare services (hereinafter referred to as village health workers);

b) Village midwives engaged in maternal and child health care services (hereinafter referred to as village midwives) in villages with many ethnic minority residents where customs and traditions still exist that prevent women from seeking antenatal care and delivery at healthcare facilities or located in areas with particularly difficult economic and social conditions, large areas, difficult and complex transportation, and limited access of residents to healthcare facilities (hereinafter referred to as villages with difficulties in maternal and child health care).

Article 3. Village health workers in residential wards shall apply the standards, functions, and tasks as prescribed in this Circular.

Article 4. This Circular does not apply to volunteers of health programs.

Article 2. Standards of village health workers

Clause 1. Regarding professional qualifications and training:

a) Village health workers engaged in primary healthcare services: Have a professional qualification in medicine from a basic level or higher, or have completed a training course lasting three months or more according to the training framework for village health workers issued by the Ministry of Health;

b) Village midwives: Have completed a training course lasting six months or more according to the training framework for village midwives issued by the Ministry of Health.

Clause 2. Living and working stably in the village; voluntarily participating in village health worker or village midwife activities.

Clause 3. Having a sense of responsibility, enthusiasm for community activities, the ability to mobilize the masses, and being trusted by the community.

Clause 4. Being in good health to perform the assigned tasks.

Article 3. Functions of village health workers

Clause 1. Village health workers engaged in primary healthcare services have the function of participating in primary healthcare services in the village.

Clause 2. Village midwives have the function of participating in maternal and child health care services in the village.

Article 4. Tasks of village health workers

Clause 1. Tasks of village health workers engaged in primary healthcare services:

a) Health education and promotion in the community:

- Implementing health education and disseminating knowledge about health protection, environmental hygiene, and food safety;

- Guiding some initial health care measures; preventing and controlling diseases in the community;

- Educating people about HIV/AIDS prevention;

- Mobilizing, providing information, and counseling on population and family planning work.

b) Participating in professional health activities in the community:

- Detecting, monitoring, and reporting infectious disease, non-communicable disease, social disease, and foodborne disease situations in the village;

- Participating in monitoring the quality of water used for drinking and daily life; household and public sanitation facilities in the village;

- Participating in implementing health promotion campaigns, food safety, improving community health, and building healthy villages.

c) Maternal and child health care and family planning:

- Promoting and guiding pregnant women to register for antenatal care and delivery at the commune health station and hospitals; handling childbirth for pregnant women who cannot reach healthcare facilities in time;

- Guiding and supervising the health care of mothers and newborns at home for the first six weeks after delivery;

- Guiding simple measures for monitoring and caring for children's health and preventing malnutrition in children under five years old;

- Guiding the implementation of family planning, providing and instructing on the use of condoms and oral contraceptives according to the regulations of the Ministry of Health.

d) Initial emergency care and common illness care:

- Performing initial emergency care for emergencies and accidents;

- Caring for common illnesses in the community;

- Participating in guiding the health care of the elderly, disabled, and those with social and non-communicable diseases at home.

đ) Participating in implementing health programs in the village.

e) Mobilizing and guiding the people to cultivate and use traditional medicine at home to prevent and treat common ailments.

g) Participating in regular meetings with the commune health station; participating in training courses and seminars organized by higher-level health authorities to improve their expertise.

h) Managing and using the Village Health Worker Kit effectively.

i) Recording and reporting promptly and completely according to the guidance of the commune health station.

Clause 2. Tasks of village midwives:

a) Promoting and mobilizing for maternal and child health care:

- Counseling on reproductive health and family planning for women of reproductive age, and preventing malnutrition in children under five years old;

- Promoting and mobilizing pregnant women to register for antenatal care and delivery at the commune health station and hospitals, and ensuring full vaccination for children within the appropriate age range;

- Guiding pregnant women on how to take care of themselves during pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, and feeding children appropriately.

b) Providing maternal health care during pregnancy:

- Managing pregnancies, identifying high-risk cases, and transferring them to healthcare facilities in a timely manner;

- Delivering assistance to pregnant women who are in labor but cannot reach medical facilities in time by using the birthing stool at home;

- Providing initial treatment for complications that occur during home deliveries and promptly transferring patients to medical facilities;

c) Regularly caring for mothers and newborns at home after delivery;

d) Guiding the implementation of family planning programs, providing and instructing on the use of condoms and oral contraceptive pills as prescribed by the Ministry of Health;

đ) Participating in implementing health programs at village level;

e) Attending regular meetings with commune health centers; participating in training courses and workshops organized by higher-level health authorities to enhance professional skills;

g) Managing and effectively utilizing Village Midwifery Kits;

h) Timely and accurately recording and reporting according to the guidance of the commune health center;

Article 5. Allowances, Equipment, and Working Methods

1. The allowances for village health workers shall be implemented in accordance with current state regulations and additional monthly subsidies (if any) from other legitimate sources as stipulated by competent authorities;

2. Each village health worker shall be equipped with medical devices and tools as specified in the list issued by the Ministry of Health;

3. Village health workers operate under a non-professional responsibility system within their villages. They are responsible for arranging and scheduling their time to ensure compliance with tasks as outlined in this Circular;

Article 6. Work Relationships

1. Village health workers are directly managed, directed, and professionally guided by the commune health center;

2. Village health workers are managed and supervised in their activities by the People's Committee of the commune and the Village Heads;

3. Village health workers coordinate with mass organizations and social groups within their villages;

4. Village health workers collaborate to fulfill assigned tasks;

Article 7. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from May 1, 2013;

2. Circular No. 39/2010/TT-BYT dated September 10, 2010, of the Ministry of Health regarding the standards, functions, and responsibilities of village health workers is abolished from the date this Circular becomes effective;

Article 8. Implementation organization

1. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall direct provincial health departments to organize the implementation of this Circular at local levels;

2. Based on the characteristics and actual situation of the locality, the Provincial Health Departments shall be responsible for:

a) Taking the lead in coordinating with relevant agencies to submit to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities for consideration and decision:

- The number, selection process, managing units, and allowance payment procedures for village health workers based on legal provisions;

- A list of villages still facing difficulties in maternal and child healthcare requiring the deployment of one village midwife;

- In cases where a village has been allocated one village health worker for primary healthcare and one village midwife, the provincial People's Committee may decide that the village health worker does not need to perform the tasks specified in Point c Clause 1 Article 4 of this Circular based on actual needs and the effectiveness of village health workers and village midwives;

b) Developing and implementing training plans for village health workers as stipulated in Clause 1 Article 2 of this Circular;

c) Directing and guiding the integration of village health workers' activities with health program volunteers to improve the efficiency of village health workers;

d) Continuing to employ those currently working as village health workers and village midwives who do not meet the professional qualifications specified in Clause 1 Article 2 of this Circular (if any), ensuring the stability of the village health network and planning standardized training for these individuals within 12 months from the date this Circular takes effect;

During implementation, if any issues arise or difficulties are encountered, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals should promptly report them to the Ministry of Health for examination and resolution within their authority./.