CIRCULAR NO. 25/2023/TT-BYT PROVIDING GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN ARTICLES OF THE LAW ON COMPETITION AND REWARD IN THE HEALTH SECTOR

 

CIRCULAR

DETAILING AND GUIDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE LAW ON COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION IN THE HEALTH SECTOR

On the basis of Law on Competition and Recognition No. 06/2022/QH15 dated June 15, 2022;

Decree No. Government Decree No. 95/2022/NĐ-CP dated November 15, 2022 stipulating functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

The phrase "or examination" is abolished pursuant to Clause 6, Article 8 of Circular No. 15/2025/TT-BVHTTDL dated November 25, 2025, of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism amending and supplementing certain articles of Circulars prescribing job codes, qualification standards, and salary grades for civil servants in the heritage culture, library, grassroots cultural activities, sports, fine arts, art performance, film, and cultural propaganda sectors, which takes effect from January 15, 2026.

The Minister of Health issues this Circular detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Competition and Recognition in the health sector. This Circular details and guides specifically Clause 4 Article 24, Clause 3 Article 26, Clause 3 Article 27, Clause 3 Article 28, Clause 2 Article 71, Clause 6 Article 74, Clause 2 Article 75, and Clause 6 Article 84 of the Law on Competition and Recognition.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular applies to collectives, officials, civil servants, public employees, workers under units subordinate to and directly under the Ministry of Health; Provincial Departments of Health under centrally governed cities and provinces; organizations and individuals with achievements and contributions to the construction and development of the health sector and in the work of caring for and protecting people's health.

Article 2. Applicability

Article 3. Responsibilities of Organizations and Individuals in Competition and Recognition Work

1. The Minister of Health initiates, directs competition movements, recognition work throughout the health sector; signs decisions to recognize rewards within their authority and is responsible for competition and recognition work in the health sector.

2. The Competition and Recognition Council of the Ministry of Health shall be responsible for:

a) Taking the lead or coordinating with the heads of units subordinate to and directly under the Ministry of Health to advise the Minister on policies, contents, programs, plans, measures to organize, initiate, direct, and conclude competition movements and recognition work in various fields or throughout the health sector;

b) Guiding, urging, inspecting, mid-term concluding, and concluding competition movements and recognition work; identifying, promoting, and widely disseminating exemplary models and good deeds and persons in the health sector;

c) Reviewing files for consideration of commendation titles and reward forms, submitting them to the Minister for examination and awarding or presenting them to competent authorities for examination and awarding according to the law.

3. The Vietnam Medical Association builds plans and collaborates with the Ministry of Health to organize activities initiated by the Association; concludes competition movements, proposes outstanding collectives and individuals for the Minister of Health to recognize rewards.

4. Heads of units subordinate to and directly under the Ministry of Health shall be responsible for:

a) Directing and organizing the initiation of competition movements, identifying, nurturing, and promoting exemplary models; proposing rewards;

b) Directing the building of plans to organize annual specialized competition movements within the entire sector or field under the Ministry of Health, clearly stating specific reward criteria to be sent to the Standing Committee of the Competition and Recognition Council of the Ministry of Health (Department of Organization and Personnel) before initiating the competition movement;

c) Organizing mid-term conclusions, final conclusions, evaluating results of competition movements, selecting outstanding and exemplary collectives and individuals to submit to the Minister of Health for recognition rewards or propose higher-level recognition rewards according to the law.

5. Communication agencies, press, publishing houses; units subordinate to and directly under the Ministry of Health; Provincial Departments of Health under centrally governed cities and provinces shall be responsible for propagating the Party's policies and State laws on competition and recognition; actively participating in identifying outstanding individuals and collectives; disseminating and showcasing exemplary models, good persons and deeds, contributing to encouraging and stimulating competition movements. Propaganda work accurately reflects the results of competition movements and recognition work; promptly reflecting and combating violations of laws on competition and recognition.

6. Organizations and individuals when requesting competent authorities to consider granting commendation titles and reward forms must bear legal responsibility for the accuracy of the files and documents.

6. Organizations and individuals when requesting competent authorities to consider conferring commendation titles or forms of reward shall be responsible under the law for the accuracy of the dossier and documents.

Article 4. Standards and subjects for awarding the title "Advanced Worker"

1. The title "Advanced Worker" shall be awarded to individuals who meet the standards prescribed in Clause 1, Article 24 of the Law on Encouragement and Reward.

2. Individuals within agencies, organizations, and units under the management authority may be considered for the title "Advanced Worker", specifically:

a) Individuals who have been and are currently performing labor contracts with a term of one year or more are eligible for evaluation for the title "Advanced Worker";

b) Individuals attending short-term training courses under one year who comply well with the regulations of the training institution shall be evaluated together with their working time at the agency or organization;

c) Individuals dispatched for training or development for one year or more, complying well with the regulations of the training institution, achieving good grades or higher (if there is a grade at the time of evaluation), the time spent studying shall be counted towards evaluation;

d) For individuals transferring jobs during the year of evaluation: the collective evaluating such individual has the responsibility to seek comments from the previous unit if the individual worked there for six months or more;

đ) Individuals on maternity leave as stipulated by law; individuals who have performed heroic acts of saving people or property, individuals serving in combat roles, individuals performing duties and getting injured, individuals participating in disease prevention and control, medical examination and treatment and contracting diseases requiring treatment and convalescence according to the conclusion of medical examination and treatment facilities at the provincial level or higher, the period of maternity leave and treatment and convalescence shall be counted as grounds for evaluation;

e) Individuals transferred or seconded to other agencies or units, the evaluation for the title "Advanced Worker" shall be carried out by the agency or unit that transferred or seconded them. The receiving agency or unit has the responsibility to provide comments on compliance with Party policies, state laws, internal regulations, and performance of assigned tasks during the transfer or secondment period.

3. The title "Advanced Worker" shall not be awarded to individuals falling under any of the following circumstances:

a) Individuals recruited or working under labor contracts for less than nine months;

b) Individuals on leave from work for three to less than six months during the year, except in cases stipulated in point đ, Clause 2 of this Article;

c) Individuals undergoing disciplinary review or investigation, audit, inspection due to suspected violations of the law, or whose complaints or denunciations are being verified.

Article 5. Standards and subjects for awarding the "Flag of Excellence of the Ministry of Health"

1. The title "Flag of Excellence of the Ministry of Health" shall be awarded at the end of the working year or academic year (for educational institutions) to leading collectives in the movement of excellence organized by the Ministry of Health and meeting the standards prescribed in Clause 1, Article 26 of the Law on Encouragement and Reward.

2. The title "Flag of Excellence of the Ministry of Health" shall be awarded for thematic excellence movements initiated by the Ministry of Health and implemented in accordance with Clause 2, Article 26 of the Law on Encouragement and Reward.

3. The subjects for awarding the title "Flag of Excellence of the Ministry of Health" are outstanding collectives leading the movement of excellence in the cluster or sector organized by the Ministry of Health and thematic excellence movements initiated by the Ministry of Health, including:

a) Units under and directly affiliated with the Ministry of Health;

b) Health Departments of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

c) Units and organizations operating in the health sector;

d) Departments, divisions, and equivalent units of units under and directly affiliated with the Ministry of Health.

Article 6. Standards and Recipients for the Title "Outstanding Labor Collective"

1. The title "Outstanding Labor Collective" shall be awarded to collectives meeting the standards prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 27 of the Law on Competition and Rewards.

2. Recipients for the Title "Outstanding Labor Collective":

a) Units under and directly affiliated with the Ministry of Health;

b) Departments, divisions, bureaus, and equivalent units under and directly subordinate to the Ministry of Health.

Article 7. Standards and Recipients for the Title "Advanced Labor Collective"

1. The title "Advanced Labor Collective" shall be awarded to collectives meeting the standards prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 28 of the Law on Competition and Rewards.

2. Recipients for the Title "Advanced Labor Collective":

a) Units under and directly affiliated with the Ministry of Health;

b) Departments, divisions, bureaus, and equivalent units under and directly subordinate to the Ministry of Health.

Article 8. Name, Recipients, and Standards for Awarding Commemorative Medals

1. The commemorative medal of the health sector is the "For the People's Health" Commemorative Medal.

2. Recipients and Standards for Awarding Commemorative Medals (excluding recipients specified in Clause 3 of this Article):

a) Individuals who have worked in the health sector for 20 years or more for males and 15 years or more for females. In cases where individuals directly engage in technical professions such as Tuberculosis, Hansen's Disease, Mental Health, Radiology, Pathology, Forensic Medicine, Forensic Psychiatry, Intensive Care, Emergency - Poison Control, Pediatrics, Traditional Medicine; individuals caring for people infected with HIV, AIDS patients; individuals directly exposed to toxic chemicals or individuals working in border areas, at sea, on islands, or in regions with extremely difficult economic conditions as defined by the Government, each year of work in these specialties or areas will be converted to 1 year and 2 months;

b) Individuals outside the health sector and foreign individuals who have made significant contributions affecting the completion of tasks in the health sector, recognized by the collective and highly evaluated by the Minister of Health, including: leaders of the Party and State; leaders of ministries, agencies, and mass organizations at the central level; leaders of government-affiliated agencies, news agencies, and press; provincial and municipal leaders contributing to management and guidance, successfully implementing the mission of protecting, caring for, and improving public health; individuals making substantial material and spiritual contributions to the health sector; foreign individuals making outstanding contributions to the protection, care, and improvement of public health; individuals demonstrating courage or contributing to preventing, controlling, and mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, epidemics, and disasters, contributing to successfully implementing the mission of protecting, caring for, and improving public health.

3. Recipients and Standards for Awarding Commemorative Medals for Individuals Working in Population Affairs:

a) Individuals who have continuously worked in population affairs for 12 years or more at the district level or higher;

b) Individuals who have continuously worked in population affairs for 10 years or more at the commune, ward, town level; in cases where individuals work in border areas, at sea, on islands, or in regions with extremely difficult economic conditions as defined by the Government, they must have continuously worked for 8 years or more;

c) Population volunteers at neighborhood associations, villages, hamlets, communes, villages, phums, socs who have continuously worked in population affairs for 8 years or more; for population volunteers working in border areas, at sea, on islands, or in regions with extremely difficult economic conditions as defined by the Government, they must have continuously worked for 6 years or more;

d) Individuals who have concurrently worked in population affairs for 15 years or more;

đ) Leaders and managers of population affairs who have contributed to effectively guiding the achievement of population goals and targets during one term of office or more.

4. The "For the People's Health" Commemorative Medal of the Minister of Health shall be awarded or posthumously awarded to individuals specified in Articles 17 and 25 of the Law on Organ Donation, Transplantation of Human Tissue and Organs, and Organ Donation.

5. The "For the People's Health" Commemorative Medal of the Minister of Health shall be awarded once to individuals who have made contributions to the cause of protecting, caring for, and improving public health.

6. The Ministry of Health (Department of Organization and Cadres) shall register the name of the "For the People's Health" Commemorative Medal with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

7. In cases where individuals are subject to disciplinary action, the period of disciplinary action shall not be counted towards the period for awarding the Commemorative Medal. Individuals who have been awarded the "For the Population Cause" Commemorative Medal shall not be nominated for the "For the People's Health" Commemorative Medal.

Article 9. Criteria for awarding Certificates of Merit by the Minister of Health

1. The Certificate of Merit by the Minister of Health shall be awarded or posthumously awarded to individuals, or presented to collectives under the management authority that meet the criteria specified in Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 74 of the Law on Competition and Rewards.

2. In one year, no more than two Certificates of Merit by the Minister of Health may be proposed for presentation to a collective or an individual (except in cases of outstanding or exceptional rewards). For specialized awards, no more than one Certificate of Merit by the Minister of Health may be proposed in a year.

3. No rewards shall be given to collectives or individuals participating in organizing conferences, seminars, discussions, dialogues, serving political, cultural, social events, or similar forms.

4. Other cases shall be examined and decided by the Minister of Health.

Article 10. Criteria for awarding Commendation Letters by the Heads of Units under and directly subordinate to the Ministry of Health

1. The Commendation Letter by the Head of a unit with legal personality under and directly subordinate to the Ministry of Health shall be awarded to individuals under the management authority who meet the following criteria:

a) Completing tasks well or better;

b) Possess good moral character; maintain internal unity; set a good example in implementing Party policies, State laws, internal regulations, and work rules of the agency or unit; actively participate in competition movements organized and launched by the agency or unit;

c) Continuously studying to improve professional knowledge and skills.

2. The Commendation Letter by the Head of a unit with legal personality under and directly subordinate to the Ministry of Health shall be awarded to collectives under the management authority who meet the following criteria:

a) Completing tasks well or better;

b) Internal unity, no complaints or denunciations; effectively implement grassroots democracy regulations, organize well the competition movements;

c) Caring for the material and spiritual life of members in the collective, practicing thrift, and combating waste;

d) Fully implementing policies and benefits for members of the collective.

Article 11. Documentation for Proposing Awards of Merit Titles and Reward Forms within the Management Authority of the Minister of Health

The documentation for proposing awards of merit titles and reward forms within the authority of the Minister of Health shall be implemented according to the provisions of Article 84 of the Law on Competition and Rewards, including one set (original) and electronic documents of the reward dossier, except for documents containing state secrets.

Article 12. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2024.

2. Circular No. 38/2018/TT-BYT dated November 30, 2018, guiding competition and reward activities in the health sector issued by the Minister of Health shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

Article 13. Reference Provisions

In cases where the referenced documents in this Circular are replaced or amended, they shall be applied according to the replacement or amended documents.

Article 14. Transitional Provisions

Documentation for proposing awards of merit titles and reward forms within the authority of the Minister of Health submitted before the date this Circular takes effect shall be implemented according to the provisions of Circular No. 38/2018/TT-BYT dated November 30, 2018, guiding competition and reward activities in the health sector (except in cases where collectives or individuals propose to be implemented according to this Circular).

Article 15. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Cadre and Civil Servant Department:

a) Is the Standing Committee of the Ministry of Health's Competition and Reward Council;

b) Shall be responsible for guiding, organizing implementation, and inspecting the implementation of this Circular.

2. The Director of the Ministry's Office; the Inspector General of the Ministry; the Heads of Departments and Bureaus under the Ministry; the Heads of subordinate units of the Ministry; the Directors of Provincial Health Services and relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

During the process of implementation, if there are any difficulties, agencies, organizations, and individuals shall promptly report to the Ministry of Health (Cadre and Civil Servant Department) for examination and resolution./.