Joint Circular No. 26/2015/TTLT-BYT-BNV stipulates the code number and qualification standards for the profession titles of nursing, midwifery, and medical technology.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Regulations on job code, occupational standards nursing aides, midwives, medical technicians y

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Pursuant to the Civil Servant Law dated November 15, 2010; 11 in 2010;

Pursuant to Decree No. 29/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 12, 2012 of the Government stipulating regulations ondevelopmentPursuant to the Government Decree No. 79/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 17, 2017 on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

Pursuant to Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP dated December 14, 2004 of the Government on salary systems for cadres, civil servants, public officials, and armed forces;No.for civil servants,June 2024;civil servants, public officialsto armed forces; Decree No. 17/2013/NĐ-CP dated December 19, 2013 of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP dated December 14, 2004 of the Government on salary system, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 109/2025/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 193/2025/NĐ-CParmed forces; 3. NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES ARE SUBJECT TO STATE MANAGEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, OTHER MINISTRIES AND SECTORS, AND PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES AT ALL LEVELS WHERE NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES ARE LOCATED, WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR FUNCTIONS AS PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Article 2. This Joint Circular applies to nutrition civil servants working in public service units.June 2024;civil servants, public officialsto August year 20

Pursuant to Decree No. 63/2012/NĐ-CP dated October 23, 2012 of the Government stipulating functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure1 Ministry of Home Affairs issued the Circular jointly prescribing the code11. This Circular applies to enterprises, cooperatives, households, individuals (hereinafter referred to collectively as establishments) engaged in the business of herbal medicines and management agencies overseeing such activities in Vietnam.

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

4. Respect and listen to patients' and community opinions regarding nutritional needs and food safety to improve health.This Decree stipulates the regulations on seniority allowances for teachers.standardsNo.professionrime Minister cand salary grading for educational administrative staffon nursingonmidwives, medicalỹ technicians.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular stipulates the code, standards for job titles and positions, and appointment and grading according to job titles and positions for nursing; midwifery; medical technicians.

Article 2. This Circular applies to public employees working as nursing, midwifery, and medical technicians in public health facilities.

The occupational ranks for civil servants teaching at public teacher training colleges include:

1. The group of nursing job titles includes:

a) Nursing Level II                Code: V.08.05.11

b) Nursing Level III               Code: V.08.05.12

c) Nursing Level IV               Code: V.08.05.13

2. The group of midwifery job titles includes:

a) Midwifery Level II                       Code: V.08.06.14

b) Midwifery Level III                      Code: V.08.06.15

c) Midwifery Level IV                   Code: V.08.06.16

3. The group of medical technician job titles includes:

a) Medical Technician Level II                   Code: V.08.07.17

b) Medical Technician Level III                Code: V.08.07.18

c) Medical Technician Level IV                Code: V.08.07.19

Article 3. General standards for professional ethics

1. Devotedly serving the cause of caring for, protecting, and improving people's health.

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 patients' rights, respect women's rights, human rights;

e) Leading and participating in scientific research, applying research results and technological advancements in population-family planning;

Chapter II

OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS

Section 1

NURSING TITLES

Article 4. Nursing Level II - Code: V.08.05.11

1. Duties:

a) Care for patients at healthcare facilities:

Examine, assess, determine issues, plan, implement, and evaluate the results of patient care;

Assess the patient's health status and issue appropriate care instructions and follow-up measures;

Organize implementation, check, and evaluate daily patient progress; identify and coordinate with treating doctors to promptly address any abnormal developments;

Organize implementation and evaluation of palliative care for terminally ill patients and psychological support for their families;

Organize implementation and evaluation of basic nursing techniques, specialized techniques, and rehabilitation techniques for patients;

Coordinate with doctors to provide appropriate recommendations for rehabilitation and nutrition for patients;

Organize implementation and evaluation of nutritional care for patients;

Organize implementation and evaluation of record-keeping in accordance with regulations;

Organize development and implementation of patient care procedures.

b) Emergency care:

Prepare medications and emergency equipment;

Issue care instructions; perform first aid and emergency techniques and some specialized first aid and emergency techniques;

Organize implementation, check, evaluate, and participate in disaster and epidemic response.

c) Health communication, counseling, education:

Plan, organize, and conduct health counseling and education for patients;

Participate in developing content, programs, materials, and conducting health communication, counseling, and education;

Organize evaluation of health communication, counseling, and education activities.

d) Community health care:

Organize implementation of hygiene and disease prevention education at healthcare facilities and in communities;

Organize implementation of primary health care and participate in national target programs;

Assess and diagnose home care interventions: injections, infusions, wound care, drainage care, and rehabilitation care.

e) Protect and enforce patients' rights:

Implement patients' rights and advocate their legal rights as prescribed by law;

Organize implementation and evaluate effectiveness of measures to ensure patient safety.

f) Collaborate and support treatment work:

Implement patient care levels;

Coordinate with treating doctors to organize implementation of ward transfers, hospital transfers, and discharge procedures;

Support, supervise, and take responsibility for the professional performance of lower-level nursing staff;

Organize and implement management of medical records, patient files, wards, patients, medicines, medical equipment, and consumables.

g) Training, research, and career development:

Organize training and practical guidance for students and nursing staff;

Organize and implement scientific research, technical improvements in patient care; apply quality improvements in patient care;

Update, evaluate, and apply evidence-based practices in care;

Develop continuous training and specialty training programs for nursing staff.

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Hold a bachelor's degree or master's degree in nursing;

b) Have a foreign language proficiency level of grade 3 or higher as prescribed 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 or have a certificate in ethnic languages for positions requiring ethnic language use;

c) Have computer skills meeting the basic information technology usage standard as prescribed in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014 of the Ministry of Information and Communications on information technology usage standards;

d) Hold a certificate for training in the standards for the nursing Level II position.

3. Qualifications regarding professional expertise and skills:

a) Understanding the Party's viewpoints, policies, and guidelines, as well as the State's policies and laws regarding the protection, care, and enhancement of public health;

b) Knowledge of personal, family, and community health and illness, making diagnoses, care levels, care referrals, and implementing safe nursing interventions for patients and communities;

c) Proficiency in basic nursing techniques, first aid, emergency care, and effective responses to emergencies, epidemics, and disasters;

d) Ability to provide health counseling, education, and effective communication with patients and communities;

đ) Skills in organizing training, instruction, scientific research, collaborating with colleagues, and advancing the nursing profession;

e) Serving as the principal investigator or co-investigator (for at least 50% of the time) or participating in a scientific research project at the institutional level or higher, or a scientific innovation or technical improvement initiative in the specialty that has been successfully reviewed and approved;

g) For staff advancing from the third-level nursing title to the second-level nursing title, they must have held the third-level nursing title or equivalent for a minimum of nine years, including at least two years in the most recent period holding the third-level nursing title;

Article 5. Third-Level Nursing - Code: V.08.05.12

1. Duties:

a) Care for patients at healthcare facilities:

Examine, assess, determine issues, plan, implement, and evaluate the results of patient care;

Monitoring, identifying, deciding, and handling issues related to patient care, and promptly reporting unusual developments to the treating physician;

Implementing and evaluating palliative care for terminally ill patients and providing psychological support to their families;

Performing basic nursing techniques, specialized complex nursing techniques, and functional rehabilitation techniques for patients;

Assessing nutritional needs, implementing, and evaluating the provision of nutritional care for patients;

Implementing and participating in the documentation process according to regulations;

Participating in the development and implementation of patient care procedures;

b) Emergency care:

Prepare medications and emergency equipment;

Performing basic first aid, emergency care, and handling critical situations such as anaphylactic shock, cardiac arrest resuscitation, and other specialized first aid and emergency care techniques;

Participating in epidemic and disaster emergency response;

c) Health communication, counseling, education:

Evaluating the need for health counseling and education for patients;

Guiding patients on care and disease prevention;

Participate in developing content, programs, materials, and conducting health communication, counseling, and education;

Evaluating health communication, counseling, and educational activities;

d) Community health care:

Conducting health education and hygiene promotion at healthcare facilities and in the community;

Implementing primary healthcare and national target programs;

Performing home nursing care techniques: injections, infusions, wound care, care for patients with drainage, and functional rehabilitation care;

đ) Protecting and enforcing patient rights;

Implement patients' rights and advocate their legal rights as prescribed by law;

Implementing measures to ensure patient safety;

f) Collaborate and support treatment work:

Collaborating with the treating physician to determine care levels and organize patient care;

Collaborating with the treating physician to prepare and assist patients in transferring departments, healthcare facilities, and discharging from the hospital;

Support, supervise, and take responsibility for the professional performance of lower-level nursing staff;

Managing patient records, medical charts, wards, patients, medications, medical equipment, and consumables;

g) Training, research, and career development:

Training and guiding students and nursing staff in practical skills;

Conducting scientific research and applying technical improvements in patient care to enhance quality;

Participating in the development of continuous training programs for nursing staff;

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Graduating from a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing;

b) Having a foreign language proficiency level of at least Level 2 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 having a certificate in ethnic languages for positions requiring the use of ethnic languages;

c) Meeting the basic information technology skill standards as specified in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on information technology skill standards;

3. Qualifications regarding professional expertise and skills:

a) Understanding the Party's viewpoints, policies, and guidelines, as well as the State's policies and laws regarding the protection, care, and enhancement of public health;

b) Knowledge of personal, family, and community health and illness, using nursing processes as a basis for planning care and implementing safe nursing interventions for patients and communities;

c) Performing basic nursing techniques, first aid, emergency care, and effectively responding to emergencies, epidemics, and disasters;

d) Possessing communication skills to effectively interact with patients and the community;

đ) Possessing training, teaching, scientific research, collaboration with colleagues, and career development skills;

e) Staff advancing from the fourth-level nursing title to the third-level nursing title must have held the fourth-level nursing title for a minimum of two years if initially hired with an associate degree, or three years if initially hired with a diploma degree.

Article 6. Grade IV Nursing Care - Code: V.08.05.13

1. Duties:

a) Care for patients at healthcare facilities:

Examine, assess, determine issues, plan, implement, and evaluate the results of patient care;

Monitor and evaluate the daily condition of patients; promptly detect and report any unusual developments in patient conditions;

Participate in palliative care for terminally ill patients and provide psychological support to family members of patients;

Implement basic nursing techniques for patients according to instructions and assignments;

Assess nutritional needs, implement dietary care instructions for patients;

Record nursing files in accordance with regulations;

b) Emergency care:

Prepare medications and emergency equipment;

Perform and participate in performing emergency first aid and rescue techniques;

Participating in epidemic and disaster emergency response;

c) Health communication, counseling, education:

Evaluating the need for health counseling and education for patients;

Guiding patients on care and disease prevention;

Implement and participate in health communication and education activities;

d) Community health care:

Participate in health education and disease prevention communication at healthcare facilities and in the community;

Participate in primary healthcare and national target programs;

Provide home care services: administering injections, wound care, caring for patients with drainage, rehabilitation care, bathing, changing dressings according to instructions;

đ) Protecting and enforcing patient rights;

Uphold patient rights and participate in defending the legitimate rights of patients in accordance with the law;

Implementing measures to ensure patient safety;

f) Collaborate and support treatment work:

Participate in patient care classification;

Prepare and assist patients in transferring departments, healthcare facilities, and discharging from hospitals;

Manage patient records, medical charts, hospital rooms, patients, medications, medical equipment, and consumable supplies;

g) Training, research, and career development:

Guide practical training for nursing students and staff within assigned scope;

Participate in implementing and applying innovations to improve quality in patient care;

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Hold a diploma or higher in nursing. In cases where a midwifery or physician assistant diploma is obtained, a nursing specialization certificate must be obtained in accordance with the Ministry of Health's regulations;

b) Possess a minimum level 1 foreign language proficiency 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 possess a minority language certificate if the position requires the use of a minority language;

c) Meeting the basic information technology skill standards as specified in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on information technology skill standards;

3. Qualifications regarding professional expertise and skills:

a) Understanding the Party's viewpoints, policies, and guidelines, as well as the State's policies and laws regarding the protection, care, and enhancement of public health;

b) Understand individual, family, and community health and illness, use nursing processes as a basis for planning care and implementing nursing interventions to ensure safety for patients and the community;

Perform basic nursing techniques, first aid, and emergency care;

Possess skills in health education and effective communication with patients and the community;

Section 2

TITLE OF MIDWIFE

Article 7. Grade II Midwife - Code: V.08.06.14

1. Duties:

a) Care for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users:

Examine and assess the health status of mothers, newborns, patients, and service users, identify priority care issues for each group;

Lead, plan, organize, and implement care for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users;

Plan monitoring, organize implementation, and check daily assessments and evaluations of mothers, newborns, patients, and service users; promptly address, anticipate, report abnormal developments not within the midwife's scope of treatment to the treating doctor; coordinate with doctors to direct lower-grade midwives to handle abnormal developments;

Plan, organize, supervise, and check basic nursing and rehabilitation techniques, obstetric care techniques, essential and specialized neonatal care, family planning, and safe abortion;

Assess nutritional needs, plan, organize implementation, and check the provision of nutritional care for mothers and newborns;

Plan, organize, supervise, and check the implementation of palliative care and psychological support for mothers and families during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and severe abnormal neonatal conditions; palliative care and psychological support for terminally ill patients;

Supervise and check the recording of nursing files in accordance with regulations;

Plan and propose appropriate drug and medical equipment lists based on actual work requirements; organize implementation, supervise, and check the storage of drugs and medical equipment;

b) Community reproductive health care:

Plan, organize antenatal care and management for pregnant women who cannot reach healthcare facilities;

Lead, plan, organize, supervise, and evaluate antenatal care and postnatal care for mothers at home;

Manage, supervise, and support community-based maternal and neonatal health care, family planning activities;

Participate in primary healthcare and national target programs;

c) Emergency care:

Manage, organize, and prepare emergency drugs and equipment;

Lead, organize, and implement obstetric and neonatal resuscitation; report and coordinate with responsible physicians or transfer to higher-level healthcare facilities;

Support other midwives or lower-level staff in promptly handling emergencies for mothers and newborns in the community;

Organize and participate in disaster and epidemic response when required;

d) Communication, education, and counseling on reproductive health care:

Lead, plan, organize, and implement assessments of counseling and health education needs for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users;

Lead, plan, organize, and implement communication, education, and counseling on reproductive health care (including male involvement), family planning, safe abortion, and gender-based violence prevention at healthcare facilities and in the community;

Plan, organize supervision, support, and evaluation of results of communication, education, and counseling on reproductive health care;

e) Collaborate and support in treatment:

Collaborate with doctors in patient care classification and organization of care for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users;

Plan and organize preparation for hospital admission, departmental transfers, facility transfers, and discharge for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users upon doctor's orders;

Plan and organize management of hospital rooms, patients, medications, medical equipment, consumable supplies, and medical records;

f) Protect and uphold patient rights:

Implement and advocate the rights of mothers, newborns, patients, and service users as prescribed by law;

Create conditions for mothers, patients, and service users to participate in the care and treatment process;

Implement and supervise measures to ensure safety for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users;

g) Training, scientific research, and career development:

Lead and organize training and practical guidance for students and midwives;

Lead and organize the implementation of scientific research, initiatives, and technical improvements in maternal, neonatal, patient, and service user care; apply initiatives and quality improvements in maternal, neonatal, patient, and service user care;

Participate in building continuous education programs and specialized midwifery training materials;

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher in midwifery;

b) Have a foreign language proficiency level of grade 3 or higher as prescribed 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 or have a certificate in ethnic languages for positions requiring ethnic language use;

c) Have computer skills meeting the basic information technology usage standard as prescribed in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014 of the Ministry of Information and Communications on information technology usage standards;

d) Possess a certificate for midwife career standard training level II;

3. Professional and vocational competence standards:

a) Understanding the viewpoints, policies, and guidelines of the Party and the State's policies and laws on public health care work;

b) Proficiently perform basic and advanced skills in obstetrics and neonatology;

c) Understand principles of primary healthcare and reproductive health services;

d) Understand and apply management skills and career development capabilities;

đ) Serve as principal investigator, secretary, or main participant (at least 50% of time) in scientific research projects at the institutional level or higher, or in approved scientific innovations or technical improvements in the field;

e) A midwife promoted from midwife level III to midwife level II must have held the midwife level III position or equivalent for a minimum of nine years, including at least two years in the most recent period;

Article 8. Midwife Level III - Code: V.08.06.15

1. Duties:

a) Care for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users:

Examine and assess the health status of mothers, newborns, patients, and service users, identify priority care issues for each group;

Plan, organize, and implement care for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users;

Organize and monitor daily observation and evaluation of mothers, newborns, patients, and service users; promptly identify, predict, and handle abnormal situations, report the handling process and unusual developments outside the scope of midwifery to treating physicians; coordinate with physicians to direct lower-level midwives during abnormal situation handling;

Organize and implement basic rehabilitation techniques, obstetric care, essential and advanced neonatal care, family planning, and safe abortion;

Assess nutritional needs, plan, organize implementation, and check the provision of nutritional care for mothers and newborns;

Organize, supervise, and implement palliative care and psychological support for mothers and families in severe pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and neonatal complications; provide palliative care and psychological support for terminal patients;

Guide, supervise, inspect, and record medical files according to regulations;

Organize and supervise the storage and management of assigned pharmaceuticals and medical equipment;

b) Community reproductive health care:

Organize prenatal examinations and manage pregnancies for mothers who cannot reach healthcare facilities;

Plan, organize, and implement home visits for postpartum mother and newborn care;

Supervise and support community-based maternal and neonatal health care and family planning activities;

Participate in primary healthcare and national target programs;

c) Emergency care:

Manage, supervise, and prepare emergency medications and equipment;

Organize and implement obstetric first aid and neonatal resuscitation; promptly report and coordinate with responsible physicians or transfer to higher-level healthcare facilities;

Participate in epidemic and disaster response when required;

d) Communication, education, and counseling on reproductive health care:

Organize and implement assessments of counseling and health education needs for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users;

Organize and implement communication, education, and counseling on reproductive health care (including male involvement), family planning, safe abortion, and gender-based violence prevention at healthcare facilities and in communities;

Participate in evaluating the outcomes of reproductive health care communication, education, and counseling;

e) Collaborate and support in treatment:

Collaborate with doctors in patient care classification and organization of care for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users;

Organize and implement hospital admissions, ward transfers, inter-facility transfers, and discharges for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users upon physician's orders;

Organize and implement ward management, patient management, medication management, medical equipment, consumables, and medical records;

f) Protect and uphold patient rights:

Implement and advocate the rights of mothers, newborns, patients, and service users as prescribed by law;

Create conditions for mothers, patients, and service users to participate in the care and treatment process;

Implement measures to ensure safety for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users;

g) Training, scientific research, and career development:

Organize and guide practical training for students and midwives;

Conduct scientific research, initiatives, and technical improvements in maternal, neonatal, patient, and service user care; apply initiatives and quality improvements in maternal, neonatal, patient, and service user care;

Participate in building continuous education programs and specialized midwifery training materials;

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher in midwifery;

b) Having a foreign language proficiency level of at least Level 2 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 having a certificate in ethnic languages for positions requiring the use of ethnic languages;

c) Meeting the basic information technology skill standards as specified in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on information technology skill standards;

3. Qualifications regarding professional expertise and skills:

a) Understanding the Party's viewpoints, policies, and guidelines, as well as the State's policies and laws regarding the protection, care, and enhancement of public health;

b) Proficiently perform basic and advanced skills in obstetrics and neonatology;

c) Understand principles of primary healthcare and reproductive health services;

d) Possess communication, presentation, and flexible interaction skills, teamwork, and independent work skills;

đ) A midwife promoted from midwife level IV to midwife level III must have held the midwife level IV position for a minimum of two years if initially hired with an associate degree or three years if initially hired with a diploma degree.

Article 9. Midwife Level IV - Code: V.08.06.16

1. Duties:

a) Care for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users:

Examine and assess the health status of mothers, newborns, patients, and service users, identify priority care issues for each group;

Develop and implement plans for caring for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users;

Monitor and evaluate the daily progress of mothers, newborns, patients, and service users; identify, provide initial treatment, forecast, and promptly report unusual developments to treating doctors and responsible midwives; carry out medical orders from doctors and coordinate with other midwives to handle unusual developments;

Perform basic rehabilitation techniques, obstetric care, and essential neonatal care techniques; assist doctors and other midwives in performing advanced obstetric and neonatal care techniques according to medical orders from doctors and assignments from responsible midwives;

Assess nutritional needs and provide nutritional care for mothers and newborns;

Provide palliative care and psychological support for terminal patients;

Record medical files as prescribed;

Manage and store medications and medical equipment assigned to them, promptly detect malfunctions to request repairs;

b) Community reproductive health care:

Develop plans for prenatal examinations and management for pregnant women who cannot visit healthcare facilities;

Develop plans for postpartum home visits to care for mothers and newborns;

Supervise and support community health care activities for mothers and newborns;

Participate in primary healthcare and national target programs;

c) Emergency care:

Prepare medications and emergency equipment;

Organize and perform emergency obstetric and neonatal resuscitation; promptly report and coordinate with responsible doctors or transfer to higher-level healthcare facilities;

Participate in epidemic and disaster response when required;

d) Communication, education, and counseling on reproductive health care:

Evaluate the need for health education and counseling for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users;

Conduct health communication, education, and counseling on reproductive health (including men), neonatal care, family planning, safe abortion, and gender-based violence prevention at healthcare facilities and in communities;

Participate in developing communication, education, and counseling plans on reproductive health;

e) Collaborate and support in treatment:

Prepare mothers, newborns, patients, and service users for hospital admission, ward transfers, outpatient referrals, and discharge as directed by doctors;

Manage patient rooms, manage mothers, newborns, patients, and service users, medications, medical equipment, consumables, and medical records;

f) Protect and uphold patient rights:

Implement the rights of mothers, newborns, patients, and service users as stipulated by law;

Create conditions for mothers, patients, and service users to participate in their care and treatment processes;

Implement measures to ensure safety for mothers, newborns, patients, and service users;

g) Training, scientific research, and career development:

Guide students and midwifery staff in practice;

Participate in scientific research; apply innovations and quality improvements in maternal, neonatal, patient, and service user care;

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Hold a diploma or higher degree in midwifery;

b) Possess a minimum level 1 foreign language proficiency 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 possess a minority language certificate if the position requires the use of a minority language;

c) Meeting the basic information technology skill standards as specified in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on information technology skill standards;

3. Qualifications regarding professional expertise and skills:

a) Understanding the viewpoints, policies, and guidelines of the Party and the State's policies and laws on public health care work;

b) Proficiently perform basic skills in obstetrics and neonatal care;

c) Understand principles of primary healthcare and reproductive health services;

d) Possess communication and flexible interpersonal skills, teamwork skills, and independent work skills;

Section 3

TECHNICAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TITLES

Article 10. Technical Health Professional Level II - Code: V.08.07.17

1. Duties:

a) Perform technical health professional duties:

Lead and organize reception, guidance, preparation, and assistance to patients before, during, and after performing health technical procedures;

Lead and organize reception, guidance for individuals and organizations sending/sending samples for food safety testing, environmental and occupational health testing;

Organize preparation, inspection, and supervision of equipment, tools, drugs, chemicals in accordance with technical requirements;

Carry out specialized deep technical procedures, apply new techniques in professional activities;

Lead and organize implementation, inspection, supervision, and evaluation of infection control and safety procedures;

Monitor and statistically record professional activities within the scope assigned;

b) Manage professional activities:

Organize and implement professional activities according to assigned tasks;

Develop plans for managing and periodically inventorying medical equipment, chemicals, reagents, and drugs used by departments or units in the field of medicine;

Use and guide the use of modern technical equipment; manage medical equipment within the scope of responsibility; detect, report, and handle simple technical errors;

Organize implementation, supervise, inspect, and be responsible for the professional performance of lower-level technical health professionals within the scope assigned;

c) Collaborate in diagnosis and treatment:

Promptly inform treating doctors of patient-related indices and images; propose additional techniques to aid in diagnosis and treatment when necessary;

Participate in consultations when assigned;

d) Protect patient rights and those of individuals/organizations sending samples for testing:

Ensure timely, accurate, objective, and truthful service provision;

Ensure the accuracy of test results;

Implement patient rights and those of individuals/organizations sending samples for testing as stipulated by law;

Lead and organize technical measures to ensure patient safety;

đ) Health education and counseling:

Develop and implement health education programs for patients and the community within the assigned scope;

Participate in disease prevention and disaster response when required;

e) Training and scientific research:

Organize training and upgrading for students and technical health professionals;

Organize scientific research, innovations, and technical improvements;

Organize the application of innovations, technical improvements, and medical evidence in technical health practices;

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Hold a master's degree in health technology;

b) Have a foreign language proficiency level of grade 3 or higher as prescribed 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 or have a certificate in ethnic languages for positions requiring ethnic language use;

c) Have computer skills meeting the basic information technology usage standard as prescribed in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014 of the Ministry of Information and Communications on information technology usage standards;

d) Hold a certificate for the standard job title of Level II technical health professional;

3. Qualifications regarding professional expertise and skills:

a) Understand the Party's viewpoints, policies, and the State's laws on people's health protection and improvement;

b) Possess the ability to proficiently perform technical procedures in the assigned specialty and apply new techniques in professional activities;

c) Possess the ability to use and guide the use and storage of equipment serving professional purposes;

d) Possess the ability to analyze, inspect, and supervise technical procedures; propose solutions to ensure the quality of professional technical procedures;

đ) Possess the ability to guide the transfer of new techniques in the field of health technology;

e) Serving as the principal investigator or co-investigator (for at least 50% of the time) or participating in a scientific research project at the institutional level or higher, or a scientific innovation or technical improvement initiative in the specialty that has been successfully reviewed and approved;

g) A civil servant promoted from the technical medical profession title level III to the technical medical profession title level II must have held the technical medical profession title level III or equivalent for at least nine years, including a minimum of two years in the most recent period holding the technical medical profession title level III.

Article 11. Technical Medical Level III - Code: V.08.07.18

1. Duties:

a) Perform technical health professional duties:

Organizing reception, guidance, preparation, and assistance to patients before, during, and after the implementation of technical medical procedures;

Organizing, receiving, guiding individuals and organizations in sending/transferring samples and collecting, preserving, transporting samples for food safety testing and occupational health environment testing;

Preparing, inspecting, supervising the preparation of equipment, tools, medicines, chemicals according to specialized technical requirements;

Implementing specialized technical procedures; cooperating in implementing complex technical procedures when assigned;

Organizing, implementing, inspecting, supervising, evaluating the implementation of infection control and safety measures in specialized work;

Monitoring, statistically recording specialized activities as prescribed;

b) Manage professional activities:

Planning management, periodically inventorying, reporting on the use of medical equipment, medicines, chemicals, pharmaceutical products within the scope assigned as prescribed;

Using, guiding the use, preserving medical equipment within the scope managed; identifying, reporting, and handling simple technical faults;

Participating in inspecting, evaluating specialized work when assigned. Organizing implementation, supervising, inspecting, and being responsible for the specialized activities of lower-level technical medical staff within the scope assigned;

c) Collaborate in diagnosis and treatment:

Promptly informing relevant indices, images related to patients to treating doctors;

Participate in consultations when assigned;

d) Protecting patient rights:

Ensure timely, accurate, objective, and truthful service provision;

Ensure the accuracy of test results;

Implement patient rights and those of individuals/organizations sending samples for testing as stipulated by law;

Organizing, implementing measures to ensure patient safety;

đ) Health education and counseling:

Advising, educating patients and the community on health within the scope assigned;

Participate in disease prevention and disaster response when required;

e) Training and scientific research:

Participating in training, enhancing students, technical medical staff when assigned;

Participating in scientific research, initiatives, technical improvements;

Applying initiatives, technical improvements, and medical evidence in technical medical practice;

2. Qualification requirements for education and training

a) Graduating from a bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant technical medical field suitable for the specialized position (medical laboratory technology, preventive medical laboratory technology, medical imaging technology, dental prosthetic technology, physical therapy/rehabilitation technology); if graduating with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, pharmacy, or another medical field, then must hold a specialized technical medical field training certificate as prescribed;

b) Having a foreign language proficiency level of at least Level 2 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 having a certificate in ethnic languages for positions requiring the use of ethnic languages;

c) Meeting the basic information technology skill standards as specified in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on information technology skill standards;

3. Qualifications regarding professional expertise and skills:

a) Understanding the viewpoints, policies, and guidelines of the Party and the State's policies and laws on public health care work;

b) Having the capability to skillfully perform technical procedures within the specialized field assumed;

c) Having the capability to skillfully use and preserve equipment serving specialized work;

d) Having the capability to analyze, test, supervise technical procedures; proposing solutions to ensure the quality of specialized technical work within the scope assigned;

đ) A civil servant promoted from the technical medical profession title level IV to the technical medical profession title level III must have held the technical medical profession title level IV for at least two years in the case of initial recruitment with an associate degree in technical medical, or three years in the case of initial recruitment with a diploma in technical medical.

Article 12. Medical Technology Level IV - Code: V.08.07.19

1. Duties:

a) Perform technical health professional duties:

Receiving, preparing, and assisting patients before, during, and after medical procedures;

Receiving, guiding individuals and organizations in submitting/transferring samples for food safety testing, environmental - occupational testing, collecting, preserving, and transporting samples;

Preparing equipment, tools, medicines, and chemicals according to the requirements of each procedure;

Performing basic technical procedures in specialty areas, assisting or collaborating with specialized staff in performing advanced techniques when assigned;

Implementing infection control measures and ensuring safety in professional activities;

Recording, monitoring, and statistically summarizing professional activities as prescribed;

b) Manage professional activities:

Forecasting, receiving, periodically inventorying, and reporting on the use of medical equipment, drugs, chemicals, and biological products as prescribed;

Using and maintaining medical equipment within the scope of management; identifying, reporting, and handling simple technical errors;

Participating in inspecting and evaluating professional work when assigned;

c) Collaborate in diagnosis and treatment:

Promptly informing relevant indices, images related to patients to treating doctors;

Supporting and collaborating with medical technicians in implementing assigned professional techniques;

d) Protect patient rights and those of individuals/organizations sending samples for testing:

Ensure timely, accurate, objective, and truthful service provision;

Ensure the accuracy of test results;

Implement patient rights and those of individuals/organizations sending samples for testing as stipulated by law;

Implementing measures to ensure patient safety;

đ) Health education and counseling:

Participating in health education guidance for patients and the community within the assigned scope;

Participate in disease prevention and disaster response when required;

e) Training and scientific research:

Participating in training practices for students, trainees, and medical technicians when assigned;

Participating in scientific research, initiatives, technical improvements;

Participating in applying innovations, improving techniques, and using medical evidence in practice;

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Graduating from a college level or higher in a relevant medical technology field (medical laboratory technology, preventive medical laboratory technology, medical imaging technology, dental restoration technology, physical therapy/rehabilitation); if graduating from a chemistry, pharmacy, or other medical field, then must have a certificate in medical technology training as prescribed;

b) Possess a minimum level 1 foreign language proficiency 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 possess a minority language certificate if the position requires the use of a minority language;

c) Meeting the basic information technology skill standards as specified in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on information technology skill standards;

3. Qualifications regarding professional expertise and skills:

a) Understanding the viewpoints, policies, and guidelines of the Party and state laws regarding the protection, care, and improvement of people's health;

b) Having the ability to proficiently perform basic technical procedures in the assigned professional field;

c) Having the ability to use and maintain equipment serving professional activities;

d) Possessing communication skills with service recipients and colleagues;

Chapter III

GUIDELINES FOR APPOINTMENT AND SALARY GRADING BY PROFESSIONAL TITLES

Article 13. Principles for Appointment and Salary Classification According to Professional Titles for Civil Servants

1. The appointment to professional titles for civil servants as stipulated in this Joint Circular must be based on the job position, assigned tasks of the civil servant, and as provided for in Article 14 of this Joint Circular, and must meet the professional title standards as prescribed in this Joint Circular;

2. When appointing from the current civil servant rank to a professional title, it shall not combine with salary grade increase or promotion of the civil servant's professional title rank;

Article 14. Cases of Appointment to Professional Titles

1. Civil servants who have been appointed to nursing ranks as specified in Decision No. 41/2005/QĐ-BNV dated April 22, 2005, of the Minister of Home Affairs on issuing the criteria for nursing civil servant ranks, now may be appointed to nursing professional titles as specified in this Joint Circular, as follows:

a) Appointing to Nursing Professional Title Level II (code V.08.05.11) for civil servants currently holding the main nursing rank (rank code 16a.199);

b) Appointing to Nursing Professional Title Level III (code V.08.05.12) for civil servants currently holding the nursing rank (rank code: 16b.120);

c) Appointing to Nursing Professional Title Level IV (code V.08.05.13) for civil servants currently holding the college-level nursing rank (rank code 16a.200) and the intermediate-level nursing rank (rank code 16b.121);

2. Civil servants who have been appointed to midwifery ranks as specified in Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BNV dated March 1, 2011, of the Ministry of Home Affairs on issuing midwifery professional titles and rank codes, now may be appointed to midwifery professional titles as specified in this Joint Circular, as follows:

a) Appointing to Midwifery Professional Title Level II (code V.08.06.14) for civil servants currently holding the main midwifery rank (rank code 16.294);

b) Appointing to Midwifery Professional Title Level III (code V.08.06.15) for civil servants currently holding the midwifery rank (rank code 16.295);

c) Appointing to Midwifery Professional Title Level IV (code V.08.06.16) for civil servants currently holding the college-level midwifery rank (rank code 16.296) and the intermediate-level midwifery rank (rank code 16.297);

3. Civil servants who have been appointed to medical technology ranks as specified in Circular No. 09/2009/TT-BNV dated October 15, 2009, of the Ministry of Home Affairs on issuing medical technology professional titles and rank codes, now may be appointed to medical technology professional titles as specified in this Joint Circular, as follows:

a) Appointing to Medical Technology Professional Title Level II (code V.08.07.17) for civil servants currently holding the main medical technology rank (rank code 16.284);

b) Appointing to Medical Technology Professional Title Level III (code V.08.07.18) for civil servants currently holding the medical technology rank (rank code 16.285);

c) Appointing to Medical Technology Professional Title Level IV (code V.08.07.19) for civil servants currently holding the college-level medical technology rank (rank code 16.286) and the intermediate-level medical technology rank (rank code 16.287);

Article 15. Salary Classification

1. The nursing, midwifery, and medical technology professional titles specified in this Joint Circular apply the Specialized Vocational Pay Scale for State-Owned Enterprise Staff (Table 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, and armed forces personnel, as follows:

a) Nursing Professional Title Level II, Midwifery Professional Title Level II, and Medical Technology Professional Title Level II apply the A2 category civil servant pay scale (A2 group), from pay scale coefficient 4.40 to 6.78;

b) Nursing Professional Title Level III, Midwifery Professional Title Level III, and Medical Technology Professional Title Level III apply the A1 category civil servant pay scale, from pay scale coefficient 2.34 to 4.98;

c) The title of profession of fourth-grade nursing, the title of profession of fourth-grade midwifery, and the title of profession of fourth-grade medical technology shall apply to the salary coefficient for category B civil servants, ranging from salary coefficient 1.86 to 4.06.

2. Determination of salary upon completion of the probation period and appointment to a professional position:

After completing the probation period as prescribed and being appointed to a title of profession by the competent authority managing civil servants, the following steps shall be taken to classify the salary grade within the appointed title of profession:

a) In case of having a doctoral degree in nursing, the third grade with a salary coefficient of 3.00 of the third-grade nursing title of profession (code V.08.05.12) shall be assigned; for a doctoral degree in midwifery, the third grade with a salary coefficient of 3.00 of the third-grade midwifery title of profession (code V.08.06.15) shall be assigned; for a doctoral degree in medical technology, the third grade with a salary coefficient of 3.00 of the third-grade medical technology title of profession (code V.08.07.18) shall be assigned.

b) In case of having a master's degree in nursing, the second grade with a salary coefficient of 2.67 of the third-grade nursing title of profession (code V.08.05.12) shall be assigned; for a master's degree in midwifery, the second grade with a salary coefficient of 2.67 of the third-grade midwifery title of profession (code V.08.06.15) shall be assigned; for a master's degree in medical technology, the second grade with a salary coefficient of 2.67 of the third-grade medical technology title of profession (code V.08.07.18) shall be assigned.

c) In case of having an associate degree in nursing, the second grade with a salary coefficient of 2.06 of the fourth-grade nursing title of profession (code V.08.05.13) shall be assigned; for an associate degree in midwifery, the second grade with a salary coefficient of 2.06 of the fourth-grade midwifery title of profession (code V.08.06.16) shall be assigned; for an associate degree in medical technology, the second grade with a salary coefficient of 2.06 of the fourth-grade medical technology title of profession (code V.08.07.19) shall be assigned.

3. The classification of salaries into titles of profession for civil servants according to Clause 1 of this Article for those civil servants who have been classified into various categories of civil servants as stipulated in Decision No. 41/2005/QĐ-BNV dated April 22, 2005 of the Minister of Home Affairs on the issuance of vocational standards for nursing staff categories; Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BNV dated March 1, 2011 of the Ministry of Home Affairs on the issuance of titles and codes for midwifery staff categories; Circular No. 09/2009/TT-BNV dated October 15, 2009 of the Ministry of Home Affairs on the issuance of titles, codes for medical technology staff categories; and Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP dated December 14, 2004 of the Government on the salary system for cadres, civil servants, public officials, and armed forces personnel; and Decree No. 2013/NĐ-CP dated December 19, 2013 of the Government amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP dated December 14, 2004 of the Government on the salary system for cadres, civil servants, public officials, and armed forces personnel shall be implemented as follows:

a) In cases where civil servants are appointed to the titles of profession of nursing, midwifery, and medical technology as stipulated in this Joint Circular and their salary grade coefficients are equal to those in the previous category, they shall be classified at the same salary grade and percentage of seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling (if any) currently enjoyed in the previous category (including the time for considering promotion to the next salary grade or enjoying seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling if any in the previous category) into the newly appointed title of profession.

Example: Mr. Nguyen Van C has been classified as a mid-level medical technician (code 16.287), grade 12, receiving 6% seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling since October 1, 2014. Now he is appointed to the fourth-grade medical technology title of profession (code V.08.07.19), his salary grade will be 12, salary coefficient 4.06, and 6% seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling of the fourth-grade medical technology title of profession from the date of the decision; the time for considering promotion to the next salary grade will be calculated from October 1, 2014.

b) In cases where civil servants with an associate degree were hired and classified under category A0 as stipulated in Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP, now they are appointed to the fourth-grade nursing title of profession (code V.08.05.13), the fourth-grade midwifery title of profession (code V.08.06.16), or the fourth-grade medical technology title of profession (code V.08.07.19), the classification of salary grades within the newly appointed title of profession shall be based on the time of compulsory social insurance contributions according to the state-defined salary scale (excluding the probation period) as follows:

Starting from the second grade of the newly appointed title of profession, every two years (24 months) thereafter, they shall be promoted to the next salary grade (if there are interrupted periods without enjoying social insurance benefits, these periods shall be accumulated). If during the working period there is a year in which the assigned tasks are not completed or disciplinary action is taken, the promotion period will be extended according to the regular promotion regulations.

After transferring the salary classification to the newly appointed title of profession as prescribed above, if the salary coefficient assigned to the newly appointed title of profession plus the seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling (if any) is lower than the salary coefficient previously enjoyed in the old category, the difference shall be retained and enjoyed until the salary coefficient (including seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling, if any) in the newly appointed fourth-grade title of profession is equal to that in the old category. The retained difference shall be enjoyed throughout the time the civil servant is classified in the fourth-grade title of profession. If the civil servant is promoted to a higher title of profession, this retained difference shall be added to the current salary coefficient (including seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling, if any) to classify the salary in the newly appointed title of profession upon promotion and stop enjoying the retained difference from the date of receiving the salary in the new title of profession.

Example: Ms. Tran Thi H, with an associate degree in nursing, was hired as an associate-degree nurse at Hospital X and has been making compulsory social insurance contributions since January 1, 2008 to the present. She has been classified as an associate-degree nursing category (code 16a.200), grade 3, salary coefficient 2.72 since January 1, 2015, and has always completed assigned tasks without disciplinary actions during her employment period. Now she meets the conditions and is appointed to the fourth-grade nursing title of profession (code V.08.05.13), the salary classification shall be carried out as follows:

The period of service of Ms. Tran Thi H from January 1, 2008, excluding the probationary period of six months, is calculated from level 2 of the professional title of fourth-grade nursing staff, and every two years she is promoted to a higher level, so on July 1, 2014, she was assigned to level 5 with a salary coefficient of 2.66 for the professional title of fourth-grade nursing staff; the time for enjoying the new salary grade at the professional title of fourth-grade nursing staff starts from the date of signing the decision; the time for considering the next salary increase is counted from July 1, 2014; simultaneously, she also enjoys an additional retention coefficient difference of 0.06 (2.72 - 2.66).

By July 1, 2016 (after two years), Ms. Tran Thi H meets the conditions to be regularly promoted to level 6 with a salary coefficient of 2.86 for the professional title of fourth-grade nursing staff and continues to enjoy the retention coefficient difference of 0.06 (total salary coefficient enjoyed is 2.92).

4. The promotion of professional titles for nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff shall be carried out after being appointed to the professional titles of nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff as stipulated in this Joint Circular and implementing salary grading according to Clause 1 Section II of Circular No. 02/2007/TT-BNV dated May 25, 2007, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs guiding salary grading when upgrading, transferring grades, and changing types of civil servants and staff.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 16. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from November 20, 2015.

2. This Joint Circular replaces Decision No. 41/2005/QD-BNV dated April 22, 2005, issued by the Minister of Home Affairs on the issuance of vocational standards for nursing staff grades; Circular No. 12/2011/TT-BYT dated March 15, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Health on the issuance of vocational standards for midwifery staff grades; Circular No. 23/2009/TT-BYT dated December 1, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Health on the issuance of vocational standards for medical technical staff grades.

3. Abolish the provisions on the code of midwifery staff grades stipulated in Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BNV dated March 1, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the issuance of professional titles and codes of midwifery staff grades; abolish the provisions on the list of medical technical staff grades stipulated in Circular No. 09/2009/TT-BNV dated October 15, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the issuance of professional titles and codes of medical technical staff grades.

Article 17. Provisions on Application

1. Staff who have been appointed to nursing grades as stipulated in Decision No. 41/2005/QD-BNV dated April 22, 2005, issued by the Minister of Home Affairs on the issuance of vocational standards for nursing staff grades; midwifery grades as stipulated in Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BNV dated March 1, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the issuance of professional titles and codes of midwifery staff grades; medical technical grades as stipulated in Circular No. 09/2009/TT-BNV dated October 15, 2009, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the issuance of professional titles and codes of medical technical staff grades, now are appointed to the professional titles of nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff as stipulated in this Joint Circular, then the competent authority managing and using staff has the responsibility to create conditions for staff to supplement the remaining criteria of the professional titles of nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff appointed.

2. From January 1, 2021 onwards, staff recruited into the professional title of fourth-grade nursing must have graduated from a college majoring in nursing; recruited into the professional title of fourth-grade midwifery must have graduated from a college majoring in midwifery; recruited into the professional title of fourth-grade medical technical must have graduated from a college majoring in medical technology. Staff with a secondary education level already recruited and appointed to the professional title of fourth-grade nursing, fourth-grade midwifery, and fourth-grade medical technical before January 1, 2021 must standardize to reach a college level in the correct major recruited no later than January 1, 2025. In cases where staff are sent to study to achieve a college level but do not participate in the study or the study results do not meet the requirements, the unit using staff reports to the management unit of staff to consider reassigning work or implementing reduction in staffing.

Article 18. Implementation Organization

1. This Joint Circular serves as the basis for implementing the recruitment, use, and management of nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff in public health facilities.

2. Non-public health facilities may apply the provisions of this Joint Circular to recruit, use, and manage teams of nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff in their units.

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

a) Review the positions within the unit, develop plans for appointing professional titles of nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff under the management authority, submit to the competent authority for examination and decision or decide according to the delegated authority.

b) Decide on the appointment of professional titles for nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff under management to corresponding professional titles of nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff according to the authority or delegated authority after the plan for appointing professional titles has been approved by the competent authority.

c) Develop plans and create conditions for staff holding the fourth-grade professional title to participate in standardized training to reach a college level in the relevant major as stipulated in Clause 2 Article 18 of this Joint Circular.

5. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, provincial People's Committees, and centrally-administered city People's Committees have the responsibility:

a) Direct subordinate units under management to implement the appointment of professional titles and salary grading for nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff in public health facilities.

b) Approve plans for appointing professional titles and salary grading for nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff in public health facilities under management from current staff grades to corresponding professional titles of nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff as stipulated in this Joint Circular; resolve issues within the authority during the process of appointing professional titles and salary grading.

c) Decision to appoint occupational titles and set salaries for nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff under management to corresponding occupational titles of nursing, midwifery, and medical technical positions in public health facilities within the scope of authority.

d) Report on the results of appointing occupational titles and setting salaries for nursing, midwifery, and medical technical staff in public health facilities under the management area to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Article 19. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Minister, the Head of a ministry-level agency, the Head of an agency under the Government; the Chairman of the People's Committee of a province or centrally governed city shall be responsible for implementing this Joint Circular;

2. During implementation, if there are any difficulties, please reflect them to the Ministry of Health for consolidation and coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs to examine and resolve them./.