Joint Circular No. 11/2015/TTLT-BYT-BNV on the code numbers and standards for public health career titles and positions

JOINT CIRCULAR

Regulations on Code Numbers and Qualification Standards for Public Health Professional Positionsg

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Pursuant to the Civil Servant Law dated November 15, 2010;

Pursuant to Decree No. 29/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 12, 2012 of the Government on recruitment, employment, and management of civil servants;

Pursuant to Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP dated December 14, 2004 of the Government on salary system for cadres, civil servants, public officials, and armed forces; and Decree No. 17/2013/NĐ-CP dated December 19, 2013 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP dated December 14, 2004 of the Government on salary system for cadres, civil servants, public officials, and armed forces;

Pursuant to Decree No. 63/2012/NĐ-CP dated August 31, 2012 of the Government on functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

Pursuant to Decree No. 58/2014/NĐ-CP dated June 16, 2014 of the Government on functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairs;

The Minister of Health and the Minister of Home Affairs hereby issue this Joint Circular regulating code numbers, qualification standards, and appointment and grading according to public health professional positions.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Joint Circular stipulates code numbers, qualification standards, and procedures for appointment and grading according to public health professional positions.

2. This Joint Circular applies to public health officials working in public healthcare facilities.

Article 2. Code Numbers and Classification of Professional Positions

1. Senior Public Health (Class I) Code Number: V.08.04.08

2. Main Public Health (Class II) Code Number: V.08.04.09

3. Public Health (Class III) Code Number: V.08.04.10

Article 3. Ethical Standards for Professional Conduct

n) Participate in the compilation of materials and textbooks on nutrition, therapeutic nutrition, and food safety and teach when required.

2. Understanding and properly implementing the rules of conduct for civil servants in the healthcare sector.

c) Leading the provision of services, counseling, and communication campaigns on population-family planning within the professional scope;

d) Leading the analysis, summary, and evaluation of professional activities on population-family planning, compiling and reporting results;

5. Respect and listen to community opinions regarding health needs and intervention measures aimed at improving community health.

6. Honesty, unity, respect, and cooperation with colleagues.

Chapter II

OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS

Article 4. Senior Public Health (Class I) - Code Number: V.08.04.08

1. Duties:

a) Monitor, analyze, and diagnose community health:

Direct and organize the implementation of scientific research to identify causes and risk factors affecting community health; determine priority health issues of the community to address;

Lead and organize the establishment of a community health monitoring system and evaluate the monitoring system;

Establish and maintain records on community health status;

Integrate public health information systems through intersectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration activities.

b) Develop plans to address priority health issues:

Lead the development of plans and select effective solutions to address community health priorities based on available resources and community participation;

Lead the supervision, support, monitoring, and evaluation of plan implementation;

Lead the compilation and analysis of proposals for policy formulation related to public health.

c) Implement plans and assess effectiveness:

Lead coordination and organization of plan implementation, mobilize community resources, provide information, education, and communication on protecting and enhancing community health, manage risks and community health;

Lead the organization of supervision, support, monitoring, and evaluation of plan progress and effectiveness, and make necessary adjustments and interventions during implementation;

Lead the organization of statistics and reporting on plan progress and emerging issues;

Lead the organization of measures to maintain and expand community health care programs;

Coordinate with the health care system to ensure effective implementation of intervention programs to protect and enhance community health.

d) Lead or participate in scientific research projects;

đ) Lead the preparation of teaching materials and professional training content for public health officials or students;

e) Participate in evaluating community health protection and care plans when required.

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Hold a Master's degree or a Doctorate in Public Health or Preventive Medicine;

b) Possess a minimum level 4 (B2) foreign language proficiency as specified in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT dated January 24, 2014 of the Ministry of Education and Training on the six-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam;

c) Possess basic computer skills as specified in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014 of the Ministry of Information and Communications on computer skill standards;

d) Hold a certificate for advanced public health training (Class I);

3. Competence and professional standards:

a) Understand the Party’s viewpoints, policies, and guidelines on health protection, care, and enhancement for the people and the development direction of the public health profession both domestically and internationally;

b) Identify environmental and social factors influencing community health;

c) Determine community health priorities and propose appropriate solutions;

d) Develop plans, strategies, evaluate policies, and organize community health protection and care activities when assigned;

đ) Evaluate the implementation of community health programs;

e) Monitor and organize early detection and prevention of epidemics in communities;

g) Have the ability to integrate, mobilize, and coordinate intersectorally to effectively implement strategies and policies;

h) Serve as principal investigator or co-investigator (at least 50% of time) for a ministry-level or equivalent research project or serve as principal investigator for two institutional-level research projects or scientific inventions that have been accepted;

i) A public health official promoted from the position of Main Public Health (Class II) to Senior Public Health (Class I) must have held the position of Main Public Health (Class II) or equivalent for a minimum of six years, including at least two years in the most recent period.

Article 5. Public Health (Class II) - Code: V.08.04.09

1. Duties:

a) Monitoring, analyzing, and diagnosing community health:

Building and organizing scientific research to identify causes and risk factors affecting community health; determining priority health issues for the community to address;

Organizing the establishment of a community health monitoring system and evaluating the monitoring system;

Establishing records on the status of community health;

Integrating public health information systems through intersectoral and multidisciplinary activities;

b) Develop plans to address priority health issues:

Planning and selecting effective solutions to address priority health issues of the community based on available resources and community participation;

Establishing a monitoring plan, supporting and evaluating the implementation process;

Synthesizing and analyzing, proposing policy planning related to the field of public health;

c) Implement plans and assess effectiveness:

Coordinating and implementing plans, mobilizing community resources, providing education and communication on protecting and improving community health; managing community health risks;

Organizing supervision, evaluating progress and effectiveness of plan implementation, supplementing, amending plans, and intervening appropriately during execution when necessary;

Organizing statistical work, reporting on the progress of plan implementation and emerging issues;

Proposing and organizing the implementation of measures to maintain and expand community health care plans;

d) Participating in scientific research;

đ) Directly participating in professional training and technical skills enhancement for lower-level public health officers or students;

e) Organizing or directly participating in professional guidance and technical direction within the field of public health;

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Graduated with a Master's degree or higher in public health or preventive medicine;

b) Possessing foreign language proficiency level 3 (B1) or higher as stipulated in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT dated January 24, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on the six-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam, or possessing ethnic language certificates for positions requiring ethnic language use;

c) Possess basic computer skills as specified in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014 of the Ministry of Information and Communications on computer skill standards;

d) Holding a certificate in primary public health (Class II);

3. Qualifications regarding professional expertise and skills:

a) Understand the Party’s viewpoints, policies, and guidelines on health protection, care, and enhancement for the people and the development direction of the public health profession both domestically and internationally;

b) Possessing skills to identify environmental and social factors affecting community health;

c) Identifying priority health issues of the community and proposing appropriate solutions;

d) Planning, proposing solutions, and organizing activities to protect and promote community health;

đ) Possessing skills to monitor and participate in evaluating the implementation of health programs at the community level;

e) Possessing skills to supervise, detect early outbreaks, and organize disease prevention and control at the community level;

g) Being able to use information technology in community health management;

h) Serving as the principal investigator or a major participant (50% or more of the time) in scientific research projects at the institutional level or higher, or scientific inventions, technical improvements that have been accepted;

i) An officer promoted from the title of public health (Class III) to the title of primary public health (Class II) must have held the title of public health (Class III) or equivalent for a minimum of nine years, including at least two years in the most recent period holding the title of public health (Class III).

Article 6. Public Health (Class III) - Code: V.08.04.10

1. Duties:

a) Monitor, analyze, and diagnose community health:

Participate in building and implementing scientific research to determine causes and risk factors affecting community health;

Participate in identifying priority health issues of the community for resolution;

Participate in establishing a system for monitoring community health status and evaluating the monitoring system;

b) Develop plans to address priority health issues:

Participate in developing plans to address priority health issues based on available resources and community involvement, proposing appropriate solutions to effectively resolve community health priorities;

Participate in establishing monitoring support plans, follow-up, and evaluation during the implementation of plans to address community health issues;

Propose recommendations as a basis for policy planning related to public health;

c) Implement plans and assess effectiveness:

Coordinate and implement established plans, including mobilizing community resources, conducting information, education, and communication on health protection, care, and improvement, guiding appropriate measures to manage risks and health for community members, participating in pre-service and primary healthcare work when required;

Participate in monitoring, evaluating progress and effectiveness of plan implementation, and supplementing or amending plans as necessary;

Carry out statistics and reporting on the progress of plan implementation and emerging issues;

Participate in proposing measures to maintain and expand community health care plans;

d) Participate in scientific research topics;

đ) Provide professional and technical guidance in public health to public health staff, students, and trainees;

e) Manage resources within the scope of responsibility assigned;

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher in public health or a doctorate or higher in preventive medicine;

b) Possess a minimum level 2 (A2) proficiency in foreign languages as stipulated in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT dated January 24, 2014 issued by the Ministry of Education and Training regarding the six-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam, or possess a certificate in ethnic languages for positions requiring the use of ethnic languages;

c) Possess basic computer skills in accordance with Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014 issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications regarding standards for using information technology;

3. Qualifications regarding professional expertise and skills:

a) Understand the viewpoints, policies, guidelines of the Party, and state policies and laws on health protection, care, and improvement of the people's health and the development direction of the public health profession in Vietnam;

b) Possessing skills to identify environmental and social factors affecting community health;

c) Identify priority health issues of the community and propose strategies and appropriate solutions;

d) Have skills in planning, proposing solutions, and organizing activities for community health protection and care;

đ) Have skills in surveillance, early detection of epidemics and diseases, organizing prevention and control of epidemics, and monitoring and evaluating the implementation of health programs at the community level;

Chapter III

GUIDELINES FOR PROMOTION AND SALARY GRADING BY TITLE

OCCUPATIONS REGULATED BY THIS JOINT CIRCULAR

Article 7. Principles for appointment and salary classification according to occupational titles for civil servants

1. Appointment to occupational titles for officials regulated by this Joint Circular must be based on job positions, tasks assigned to officials, and in accordance with Article 8 of this Joint Circular;

2. When appointing from the current rank of officials to the occupational title of public health (Class III) without combining salary grade increases or occupational title promotions;

Article 8. Cases for Appointment to Professional Titles

Officials who have been appointed to public health ranks according to Decision No. 28/2005/QĐ-BNV dated February 25, 2005 of the Minister of Home Affairs on the issuance of vocational standards for public health official ranks, now will be appointed to the occupational title of public health regulated by this Joint Circular as follows:

1. Appoint to the occupational title of senior public health (Class II), code V.08.04.09 for officials currently holding the public health senior rank, code 16a.197;

2. Appoint to the occupational title of public health (Class III), code V.08.04.10 for officials currently holding the public health rank, code 16a.198;

Article 9. Salary Grading Method

1. The occupational titles of public health regulated by this Joint Circular shall apply the Professional Salary Scale for State-Owned Enterprise Staff (Scale 3) issued together with Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP dated December 14, 2004 of the Government on the salary system for cadres, civil servants, officials, and armed forces, as follows:

a) The occupational title of senior public health (Class I) shall apply the salary coefficient for type A3 officials (group A3.1), from coefficient 6.20 to coefficient 8.00;

b) The occupational title of public health senior (Class II) shall apply the salary coefficient for type A2 officials (group A2.1), from coefficient 4.40 to coefficient 6.78;

c) The occupational title of public health (Class III) shall apply the salary coefficient for type A1 officials, from coefficient 2.34 to coefficient 4.98;

2. The assignment of salary grades to occupational titles of officials regulated in Clause 1 of this Article for officials who have been assigned salaries to public health ranks according to Decision No. 28/2005/QĐ-BNV dated February 25, 2005 of the Minister of Home Affairs on the issuance of vocational standards for public health official ranks and Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP dated December 14, 2004 of the Government on the salary system for cadres, civil servants, officials, and armed forces shall be implemented as follows:

Officials meeting the conditions for appointment to the occupational title of public health with the same salary grade coefficient as the old rank shall be assigned the same salary grade and percentage of seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling (if any) currently enjoyed in the old rank (including time for the next salary grade increase review or seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling if any in the old rank) to the newly appointed occupational title.

For example: Ms. Nguyen Thi G was classified under the public health category (code 16a.198), grade 4, salary coefficient 3.33 from May 1, 2013. Now she meets the conditions and has been appointed to the public health position (Class III) with code V.08.04.10 by the competent authority, thus being classified at grade 4, salary coefficient 3.33 for the public health position (Class III) from the date of the decision; the time for the next salary increase review will be calculated from May 1, 2013.

3. The promotion of the occupational rank for public health officials shall be carried out after they have been appointed to the public health occupational rank as stipulated in this Circular and their salaries are adjusted according to the guidelines set forth in Clause 1, Section II of Circular No. 02/2007/TT-BNV dated May 25, 2007 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the adjustment of salaries when upgrading, transferring, or changing the type of civil servants and officials.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 10. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from July 16, 2015.

2. This Circular replaces Decision No. 28/2005/QĐ-BNV dated February 25, 2005 of the Minister of Home Affairs on the issuance of vocational standards for public health official categories.

Article 11. Transitional Provisions

Officials who have been appointed to public health categories as prescribed in Decision No. 28/2005/QĐ-BNV dated February 25, 2005 of the Minister of Home Affairs on the issuance of vocational standards for public health official categories, and are now appointed to public health occupational positions as stipulated in this Circular, the competent authority managing and using the officials shall be responsible for creating conditions for the officials to supplement the missing criteria of the public health occupational positions to which they are appointed.

Article 12. Implementation Organization

1. This Circular serves as the basis for the recruitment, utilization, and management of public health officials in public health facilities.

2. Non-public health facilities may apply the provisions of this Circular to recruit, utilize, and manage public health staff within their facilities.

3. The head of public healthcare facilities directly managing and utilizing civil servants has the responsibility to:

a) Review the job positions of the unit, develop a plan to appoint public health occupational positions within the management authority, submit it to the competent authority for examination and decision or decide according to the delegated authority.

b) Appoint public health occupational positions for public health officials under management to corresponding public health occupational positions according to the authority or delegated authority after the appointment plan for public health occupational positions has been approved by the competent authority.

4. Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, agencies under the Government, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for:

a) Direct units under management to implement the appointment of public health occupational positions and salary classification for public health officials in public health facilities;

b) Approve the plans for the appointment of public health occupational positions and salary classification for public health officials in public health facilities under management from the current official category to corresponding public health occupational positions as stipulated in this Circular; resolve issues within the authority during the process of appointing public health occupational positions and salary classification;

c) Decide on the appointment of public health occupational positions and salary classification for public health officials under management to corresponding public health occupational positions in public health facilities according to the authority.

d) Report the results of the appointment of public health occupational positions and salary classification for public health officials in public health facilities under management to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Article 13. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Minister, head of a ministry-level agency, head of an agency under the Government; Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities and relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

2. During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, organizations and individuals are requested to report to the Ministry of Health for consolidation and coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs to examine and resolve them.