Joint Circular No. 09/2002/TTLT/BTCCBCP-BLDTBXH-BTC-BYT guides on transferring Vietnam Health Insurance to Vietnam Social Security.

CIRCULAR

JOINT CIRCULAR OF THE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND CIVIL SERVICE BOARD - MINISTRY OF LABOR, WAR INVALIDS AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS - MINISTRY OF FINANCE - MINISTRY OF HEALTH NUMBER 09/2002/TTLT-BTCCBCP - BLDTB&XH-BTC-BYT DATE FEBRUARY 8, 2002
GUIDELINES ON TRANSFERRING VIETNAMESE HEALTH INSURANCE TO VIETNAMESE SOCIAL INSURANCE

Pursuant to Article 2 of Decision No. 20/2002/QĐ-TTg dated January 24, 2002 of the Prime Minister on transferring Vietnamese Health Insurance to Vietnamese Social Insurance, the Joint Ministries of Health, Finance, Labor - War Invalids and Social Affairs, and Government Organization and Civil Service Board hereby provide guidance for implementation as follows:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1- Purpose:

The transfer of Vietnamese Health Insurance to Vietnamese Social Insurance aims at:

1.1- Implementing the organizational restructuring of the Government under Decision No. 136/2001/QĐ-TTg dated September 17, 2001 of the Prime Minister approving the overall program for administrative reform of the State from 2001 to 2010;

1.2- Serving and better meeting the requirements of those participating in Social Insurance and Health Insurance (both mandatory and voluntary), and creating favorable conditions for organizations employing workers to pay insurance contributions as prescribed by law;

1.3- Developing and enhancing the efficiency of resource utilization in both the Social Insurance and Health Insurance systems.

2- Principles:

The transfer of Vietnamese Health Insurance to Vietnamese Social Insurance as stipulated in Decision No. 20/2002/QĐ-TTg dated January 24, 2002 of the Prime Minister, according to the Health Insurance Regulations issued pursuant to Decree No. 58/1998/NĐ-CP dated August 13, 1998 of the Government, must ensure the following principles:

2.1- Transferring the Health Insurance system to the Social Insurance system in its entirety. During the transfer period, there will be no changes to functions, tasks, organization, personnel, assets, finance; ensuring state policies and benefits for management cadres, civil servants, and public officials;

2.2- Fully, continuously, and promptly implementing state policies and benefits regarding medical examination and treatment and health care for those participating in Health Insurance; managing and using the Health Insurance fund in accordance with current regulations;

2.3- Continuing to implement medical examination and treatment contracts between the Health Insurance agency and healthcare facilities for patients participating in Health Insurance;

2.4- Summarizing the implementation of the Health Insurance system to propose to the Government for supplementation, amendment of policies, and expansion of participants in Health Insurance towards universal health coverage;

2.5- Stabilizing thoughts and fostering unity among cadres, civil servants, and public officials to complete assigned tasks.

II- SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

1- Contents of transferring Vietnamese Health Insurance to Vietnamese Social Insurance.

1.1- Functions, tasks, annual work programs and plans for 2002;

1.2- Organizational structure and personnel of the entire Health Insurance system up to January 25, 2002;

1.3- All assets, funds, land, architectural works, debts (if any), and all related files, documents, ledgers, and vouchers concerning operational transition and financial activities as of March 31, 2002.

2- Transfer Method:

To ensure accuracy, convenience, and compliance with the transfer schedule, the General Director of Vietnamese Social Insurance shall coordinate with the General Director of Vietnamese Health Insurance to establish joint working groups at each level to implement the transfer contents specified in Point 1 of Section II above through direct transfers at each level and in the following sequence:

2.1- At the Central Level:

The General Director of Vietnamese Health Insurance shall carry out the transfer of the entire national Health Insurance system (including sectoral Health Insurance) to Vietnamese Social Insurance within the scope of management delegated and decentralized by the Ministry of Health.

2.2- At the Local Level:

The Director of Provincial Health Insurance shall carry out the transfer of the entire Health Insurance system from province to district, city, town, and provincial city (if applicable) to Provincial Social Insurance.

The Directors of Health Insurance and Social Insurance at the provincial level shall consolidate reports and minutes of handover between lower-level Health Insurance and Social Insurance; prepare comprehensive reports and minutes of handover at the local level to be submitted to Vietnamese Health Insurance and Vietnamese Social Insurance for consolidation of nationwide handover.

3- Responsibilities:

3.1- The General Director of Vietnamese Social Insurance shall be responsible for:

3.1.1- Implementing the receipt of transfer as stipulated in Points 1 and 2 of Section II of this Circular.

3.1.2- Providing general direction to the General Director of Vietnamese Health Insurance in managing and operating the Health Insurance system according to the Health Insurance Regulations promulgated together with Decree No. 58/1998/NĐ-CP dated August 13, 1998 of the Government.

3.1.3- Participating in meetings of the Management Council of Health Insurance.

3.1.4- Conducting separate accounting for the Health Insurance Fund and Social Insurance.

3.2- The General Director of Vietnamese Health Insurance shall be responsible for:

3.2.1- Transferring the contents of work as stipulated in Point 1 and 2 of Section II above to the General Director of Vietnamese Social Insurance by the end of the first quarter of 2002.

3.2.2- Continuing to manage and operate the Health Insurance system according to current regulations.

3.2.3- During the transfer period, no new organizations shall be established, no new personnel shall be recruited, no leadership positions shall be promoted, and no new construction projects or fixed asset purchases shall be initiated.

3.2.4- Continuing to use seals and accounts of Health Insurance according to current regulations until new regulations are issued by the Government.

3.3- The Management Council of Vietnamese Health Insurance shall continue to perform functions, tasks, and powers as stipulated in Article 28 of Decree No. 58/1998/NĐ-CP dated August 13, 1998 of the Government until new regulations are issued by the Government and implement Decision No. 20/2002/QĐ-TTg dated January 24, 2002 of the Prime Minister.

3.4- The Management Council of Vietnamese Social Insurance shall be responsible for directing Vietnamese Social Insurance to implement the handover in accordance with Decision No. 20/2002/QĐ-TTg dated January 24, 2002 of the Prime Minister.

3.5- The Minister of Health shall issue a decision to transfer the entire Health Insurance system as stipulated in Point 1 of Section II above to Vietnamese Social Insurance.

3.6- The Minister of Health, the Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Minister of Finance, the Head of the Government’s Organization and Cadre Board, and the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally governed cities shall continue to perform their State management functions regarding Health Insurance according to current regulations until new provisions are issued by the Government.

4- Implementation organization:

4.1- The General Director of the Vietnam Social Security and the General Director of the Vietnam Health Insurance shall organize for leaders, managers, civil servants, and employees to fully understand this transfer for the common development of the Vietnamese Insurance System, which has significant meaning both currently and in the future, so that they can work with peace of mind, unite to create conditions to support and help each other in a spirit of collegiality, and complete the assigned tasks.

4.2- The General Director of the Vietnam Social Security and the General Director of the Vietnam Health Insurance shall direct, provide detailed guidance, inspect, and organize implementation throughout the entire social insurance and health insurance system to ensure that the transfer is quick, comprehensive, and accurate according to the contents stipulated in this Circular.

4.3- After completing the transfer of the Vietnam Health Insurance to the Vietnam Social Security, the General Director of the Vietnam Social Security shall be responsible for reporting the consolidated results of the handover of the entire health insurance system (attached with the handover protocol) to the Government’s Organization and Cadre Board, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

III- IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

This Circular takes effect from the date of signature.

In case of any difficulties during implementation, please report to the Government’s Organization and Cadre Board, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs for research and resolution.