Circular No. 09/1999/TT-BYT guiding the implementation of the Prime Minister's Directive No. 34/CT-TTg dated September 30, 1998 on organizing activities for the International Year of Older Persons.

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for implementing the Prime Minister's Directive No. 34/CT-TTg dated September 30, 1998 on organizing activities for the International Year of Older Persons

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To implement Directive No. 34/CT-TTg dated September 30, 1998 of the Prime Minister on organizing activities for the International Year of Older Persons, and to actively respond to this year, the Ministry of Health guides units under the Ministry, provincial and municipal health departments to implement the following contents:

I. REGARDING PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION WORK:

1. Actively disseminate widely the policies, activities of the Party, State, and the Health Sector regarding the care of older persons' health.

2. Introduce methods and experiences to help older persons enhance their knowledge about improving health, preventing and treating common diseases.

3. Launch a movement to plant traditional medicinal herbs and use them to treat common illnesses.

4. Publicity and education work shall be carried out through various forms:

Cooperating with propaganda agencies, press, radio, television stations at central and local levels.

Distributing literature, books, newspapers, posters, photographs... to older persons with concise, easy-to-understand, and easy-to-use content.

Coordinating with the Association of Older Persons, various committees, and mass organizations to organize talks and seminars on health care for older persons.

II. REGARDING MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT, HEALTH CARE FOR OLDER PERSONS:

Implementing Circular No. 06/BYT-TT dated May 29, 1996 of the Minister of Health on caring for older persons and supporting activities for the Vietnam Association of Older Persons, many units in the health sector have actively implemented the movement to care for older persons' health over the past three years. To further improve the effectiveness of medical examination and treatment, health care for older persons, provincial and municipal health departments must continue to organize and direct district, commune health centers, and community health stations to fulfill the following requirements:

Further intensify medical examination and treatment, health care for older persons, making these activities regular annual events. Establish and distribute outpatient medical records.

Monitor and manage the health and illnesses of older persons. Pay special attention to older persons who have contributed to the revolution, mothers of heroes, parents of disabled veterans, poor, lonely, and destitute elderly individuals without support.

Provide medical support to service facilities caring for and nurturing older persons.

Hospitals and institutes with beds under the Ministry, provincial, and centrally-administered municipal hospitals need to organize specialized wards or allocate beds specifically for older persons, effectively performing rehabilitation work for older persons after hospitalization and at home.

Emergency rooms and clinics of healthcare facilities must promptly receive and provide emergency care to seriously ill older persons, not delaying due to paperwork or procedures that could affect the lives of older persons.

III. REGARDING REPORTING AND SUMMARIZING ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF OLDER PERSONS:

Units under the Ministry responsible for disease prevention, medical examination and treatment, education, propaganda, and health protection, as well as provincial and centrally-administered municipal health departments, must organize summaries of health care activities for older persons after three years of implementing Government Directive No. 117/TTg and Circular No. 06/BYT-TT of the Ministry of Health, submitting comprehensive reports to the Ministry of Health (Treatment Department) before June 30, 1999, including the following contents:

1. Propaganda and education activities.

2. Medical examination and treatment, health care activities for older persons:

The number of older persons receiving outpatient and inpatient medical services.

Medication expenses.

Assessment of the health status of older persons.

Models of common diseases among older persons.

Upon receipt of this circular, units shall immediately develop plans for implementation; if encountering difficulties or obstacles, they must report to the Ministry of Health (Treatment Department) for research and resolution./.