Joint Circular No. 11/YT-TC-TT guiding the implementation of Decision No. 252-CT dated November 13, 1981 of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers on amending the diet for patients treated at hospitals, health stations with beds, and rehabilitation centers.

CIRCULAR

JOINT MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FINANCE DECREE NO. 11/YT-TC-TT
DATE: JULY 17, 1982 GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION
OF DECREE NO. 252-CT OF NOVEMBER 13, 1981 ISSUED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ON AMENDING THE DIET REGIME FOR PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE STATIONS WITH BEDS AND NURSING HOMES
ARTICLE OF TREATMENT AT HOSPITALS, PRIMARY HEALTH CARE STATIONS WITH BEDS AND NURSING HOMES
AND THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE

Pursuant to Decree No. 252-CT dated November 13, 1981 issued by the Chairman of the State Council of Ministers on amending the diet regime for patients in hospitals, primary health care stations with beds and nursing homes, the Ministry of Health and Finance hereby provide guidance for implementation as follows:

I. LEVELS OF DIET EXPENSES AND PATIENT CONTRIBUTIONS

1. For cadres, workers, and civil servants currently employed, and cadres, workers, civil servants, and military personnel who have retired or left their jobs due to loss of working capacity.

Based on the patient's condition and health status, doctors will prescribe a pathological diet combined with salary levels as follows:

Patients undergoing treatment in intensive care units or post-operative care (major surgery) are entitled to a pathological diet regardless of their salary level. Other seriously ill patients requiring a pathological diet must be decided upon by the head of the department (for central hospitals) or the hospital director (for local hospitals). The contributions of these patients still depend on their salary levels as specified in the table above.

Cadres at village and ward levels receiving living allowances according to Decision No. 111-HĐBT dated October 13, 1981 of the State Council of Ministers shall be subject to the same diet and contribution levels as cadres, workers, and civil servants with salaries below 90 dong, including:

- Secretaries of village and ward party committees or secretaries of village and ward branch committees where there is no party committee.

- Chairmen and vice-chairmen of village and ward people's councils.

- Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier as mentioned in Sub-clause b, Clause 1, Article 3 above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review and submit to the competent authority for decision (Issues exceeding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction will be referred to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision).- Military cadres and members of the secretariat of village and ward people's councils.

- Cadres of the United Front and mass organizations receiving monthly living allowances.

- Professional staff of village and ward party committees and people's councils and cadres responsible for hamlets, villages, and communities receiving monthly living allowances. Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier as mentioned in Sub-clause b, Clause 1, Article 3 above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review and submit to the competent authority for decision (Issues exceeding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction will be referred to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision).- Medical and technical staff trained to university, college, and vocational levels if they are employed in their respective fields in accordance with national regulations in villages and wards and receive monthly living allowances.

Village and ward cadres who have retired after long service shall receive a monthly allowance equal to 60% of their living allowance when in service according to Decision No. 130-CP dated June 20, 1975 of the State Council of Ministers.

Heroes of Labor, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, incumbent National Assembly deputies with salaries below 160 dong or who are not civil servants shall be subject to the same diet and contribution levels as specified in point c of the table above.

War invalids and veterans residing in their home regions during hospitalization (including cases of old wounds or diseases recurring) shall be subject to the same diet and contribution levels as specified in point a of the table above.

2. For the general public and children.

a) The general public and children treated in hospitals shall be subject to a diet of 4 dong per day. If patients request additional food beyond this amount and pay for it themselves, hospitals should provide such food based on the ability of each locality, and patients shall pay the full cost of the provided meal.

b) The following patients shall only pay 1 dong per day for their meals:

- Parents, spouses of martyrs who have reached retirement age.

- Children of martyrs who have not yet reached working age or who have reached working age but are unemployed.

- Parents, spouses who are unable to work, and children who have not yet reached working age or are unemployed, starting from the third child that civil servants must support.

- Those who have made contributions to the revolution.

- Students of universities, colleges, vocational schools, and vocational training institutions.

c) The following individuals, if confirmed by the village or ward authorities or the agency or enterprise (for state civil servants' children) shall be exempt from paying for meals and shall be covered by the state social insurance fund (recorded in item 6, section 6 of the state budget):

- Truly disabled persons with economic difficulties.

- Elderly and orphaned children without support.

- Children (first two children) who have not yet reached working age and are supported by civil servants.

- Patients with mental illness, tuberculosis, leprosy, and other chronic diseases who have been hospitalized for over one month, if their families face real financial difficulties, shall be exempt from paying for meals from the second month onwards.

d) Workers building new economic zones in the first three years, if they fall ill and need hospitalization, shall be exempt from paying for meals according to Decision No. 95-CP dated March 27, 1980 and Decision No. 254-CP dated June 16, 1981 of the State Council of Ministers.

1. While implementing the dietary regime for patients based on their medical conditions, for severely ill patients, hospitals must adjust the menu appropriately to ensure the standard benefits. If the patient does not consume the full standard or cannot eat due to severe illness or has just undergone surgery and has not been prescribed food, the hospital shall not refund the standard in cash or kind to the patient.

II. IMPLEMENTATION

2. To ensure the dietary care of patients hospitalized in healthcare facilities and nursing homes at the aforementioned levels, the internal trade department must ensure the supply of goods meeting the quality and quantity standards as stipulated in Circular No. 20-TT/LB dated August 18, 1981 of the Joint Ministry of Health and Internal Trade and Circular No. 142-NT/CS dated January 15, 1982 of the Ministry of Internal Trade.

As for staple foods, patients eating at hospital and nursing home cafeterias must submit food coupons. In case of no food coupons, they can submit equivalent goods according to the ratio between rice and flour set by the state, or pay the price difference for purchasing staple foods at the state-specified retail price or the free market price in their locality.

As for food rations, patients eating at the hospital's dining hall and the rehabilitation institute must submit food ration stamps. In cases where there are no food ration stamps, they shall pay in kind according to the ratio between rice and other grains prescribed by the State, or pay the price difference for purchasing food at the State-guided retail price, or at the free market price in each locality.

3. In the event that a person from this locality falls ill and is hospitalized at a hospital located in another locality or a central hospital, the daily food allowance subsidy for the patient shall be covered by the budget of the receiving locality, without the need for reciprocal payments between the central budget and the local budget, or between the budgets of different localities.

III. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

This Circular takes effect from July 15, 1982, and all previous regulations contrary to this Circular are hereby abolished.

During implementation, if difficulties and obstacles arise, it is recommended that localities report them to the joint ministries for study and resolution.