Directive No. 23/2006/CT-TTg on Strengthening Health Work in Schools

DIRECTIVE

On Strengthening Health Work

in Schools 

In recent years, implementing the Law on Protecting Public Health, the Education Law, the Law on Protecting, Caring for, and Educating Children, the health sector and the education sector have made concerted efforts to coordinate and direct the implementation of health work in schools and have achieved certain results. Several regulatory legal documents on health work in schools have been issued, creating favorable conditions for localities to implement them. The network of school health has gradually been consolidated, with many provincial preventive health centers having staff monitoring health work in schools. Some disease prevention programs have been introduced into some schools such as HIV/AIDS prevention, dengue fever prevention, malaria prevention, parasitic worm prevention, malnutrition prevention, injury prevention, food safety, dental care... aimed at protecting and improving the health of students and pupils.

However, health work in schools still faces many difficulties and shortcomings. The network of health staff in schools is insufficient in number and quality, with over 80% of schools nationwide not having dedicated health staff; educational and health care conditions for students and pupils are not guaranteed due to lack of infrastructure, equipment, and operating funds. Coordination among relevant ministries and sectors in student and pupil health care is not tight enough. These difficulties and shortcomings have led to an increase in some diseases and disabilities among school-age children, such as myopia, spinal deformities, dental diseases, parasitic worm infections, especially some diseases that were not detected and treated in time, seriously affecting the physical and mental development of students and pupils.

To contribute to successfully implementing Resolution No. 46-NQ/TW dated February 23, 2005 of the Politburo on public health protection, care, and improvement under new circumstances, in the future, it is necessary to focus on effectively implementing health work in schools. Consolidate and develop health facilities in schools throughout the country; adequately allocate and improve the professional capacity of health staff in schools; improve the learning environment hygiene conditions, while ensuring basic resources for health activities in schools.

To implement the above tasks, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. The Ministry of Health shall be responsible:

a) To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to study and propose the construction, amendment, and supplementation of legal regulatory documents on health work in schools;

b) To regularly inspect and promptly identify and take measures to address factors harmful to the health of students and pupils;

c) To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Population, Family and Youth Committee, and relevant ministries and sectors to organize training and retraining for the health staff in schools; to inspect, evaluate, classify, and manage the health of students and pupils; to propose measures to improve the health of students and pupils;

d) To coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to promote and mobilize to raise societal awareness and responsibility for the health protection, care, and improvement of students and pupils.

2. The Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall be responsible:

a) To direct schools to allocate dedicated health staff according to staffing levels and ensure working conditions so that health staff can effectively perform their duties in protecting and caring for the health of students and pupils;

b) To ensure good conditions regarding infrastructure and equipment serving the learning process of students and pupils to minimize risk factors affecting the occurrence and increase of school-related diseases and disabilities; to invest in infrastructure and equipment for health work in schools;

c) To coordinate with the Ministry of Health in developing and improving teaching content and health education methods to enable students and pupils to have correct understanding and actively participate in disease and disability prevention both within and outside the school;

d) To promote and mobilize students, pupils, and their families to join health insurance towards achieving universal health coverage by 2010;

đ) To coordinate with the Ministry of Health to establish criteria for schools meeting health standards;

e) To coordinate with domestic and international organizations to build and implement projects related to health work in schools.

3. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall be responsible for taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and other relevant ministries and sectors to research and draft proposals to submit to the Prime Minister for issuing staffing norms and policies for health staff in schools.

4. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall be responsible for compiling and drafting annual investment plans for education, health protection, and care for students and pupils.

5. The Ministry of Finance shall be responsible for ensuring and guiding the use of funds allocated for health activities in schools for ministries, sectors, and localities in accordance with the State Budget Law.

6. Ministries and sectors with educational and training institutions shall be responsible for proactively coordinating with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to develop plans, invest in human resources, funds, infrastructure, equipment, and organize the effective implementation of health activities in schools under their management.

7. The Vietnam Social Security shall be responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health and related agencies to implement health insurance for students and pupils. Propose mechanisms for using health insurance funds for student and pupil health care activities in schools in line with economic and social development.

8. Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall be responsible:

a) Based on the guidelines for health work in schools issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training, direct the Departments of Health, Education and Training, Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, and other relevant agencies to develop and implement health work in schools in accordance with the socio-economic conditions of the locality. Organize the implementation of inspection and supervision of health work in schools within the jurisdiction;

b) Increase investment in human resources, funding, infrastructure, and equipment for health work in schools.

9. Ministries, sectors, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall submit periodic reports every six months and annually on the implementation of health work in schools to the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry of Health shall be responsible for monitoring, urging, inspecting the implementation of this Directive, and compiling reports to the Prime Minister.

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, and Chairpersons of provincial and centrally governed city People's Committees shall be responsible for enforcing this Directive.

This Directive shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette./.