CIRCULAR

(vi) Agreement on the amount of reserve left behind and the deadline for selling the purchased cash foreign currency to the authorized credit institution. management and use of state budget funds for implementing the Health - Population Target Program for the 2016-2020 period

objectives of the Health - Population Target Program for the 2016-2020 period

 

 Pursuant to the State Budget Law dated June 25, 2015;

Pursuant to Decree No. 163/2016/NĐ-CP dated December 21, 2016 of the Ministry of Finance detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the State Budget Law;

Pursuant to Decree No. 87/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 26, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

Implementing Decision No. 1670/QĐ-TTg dated October 31, 2017 of the Prime Minister approving the Target Program on Response to Climate Change and Green Growth for the period 2016-2020;

Implementing Decision No. 1125/QĐ-TTg dated July 31, 2017 of the Prime Minister approving the Health - Population Target Program for the 2016-2020 period (hereinafter referred to as Decision No. 1125/QĐ-TTg);

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Administrative and Public Financial Affairs;

The Minister of Finance issues this Circular to regulate the management and use of state budget funds for implementing the Health - Population Target Program for the 2016-2020 period.

 

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation and applicable subjects

1.     Scope of regulation

This Circular regulates the management and use of state budget funds for the Health - Population Target Program for the 2016-2020 period (hereinafter referred to as the Program) according to Decision No. 1125/QĐ-TTg dated July 31, 2017 of the Prime Minister (including matching funds for programs and projects to implement the Program); except for purpose-specific support from organizations and individuals both within and outside Vietnam, and support where the donor (or the authorized representative of the donor) and Vietnam have agreed on the content and level of expenditure.

2. Applicable subjects

This Circular applies to agencies, units, organizations, and individuals managing, using, and benefiting from state budget funds for the implementation of the Program.

Article 2. Sources of funding for the Program

1. Central budget:

a) Ensuring funds for Ministries and central agencies to carry out activities under the project/Program (including matching funds for ODA projects to fulfill the tasks and activities/projects as agreed with donors and approved by competent authorities);

b) Ensuring sufficient vaccines, syringes, safety boxes for expanded immunization; anti-tuberculosis drugs in phases 1 and 2 during the 2016-2018 period (from 2019, anti-tuberculosis drugs will be reimbursed from the Health Insurance Fund (HIF) for those with health insurance cards, other individuals not covered by the HIF will continue to be reimbursed from the Program budget); mental health drugs; drugs, chemicals, spray equipment, supplies for malaria prevention; contraceptives provided to priority groups and social marketing; Vitamin A; purchasing special items and customizing production of shoes for leprosy patients, compounding topical medications for leprosy screening; antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) in the 2016-2018 period (from 2019, ARVs will be reimbursed from the HIF for those with health insurance cards, other individuals not covered by the HIF will continue to be reimbursed from the Program budget), opportunistic infection drugs, HIV testing reagents, drug treatment for substance abuse substitution therapy, syringes, condoms, and other supplies for HIV/AIDS prevention; chemicals, spray equipment, facilities, and supplies for dengue fever prevention; complete sets of equipment according to project requirements;

c) Renting software for vaccination, renting information technology services for the national vaccination information management system, software for managing patients undergoing substance abuse substitution therapy and ARV treatment; renting vaccine storage warehouses, contraceptive distribution vehicles; purchasing vaccine warehouse insurance; compensating for vaccination injuries; supporting vaccination campaigns in some difficult provinces;

d) Supporting localities to implement project activities (excluding tasks funded by local budgets) according to the principle stipulated in Point b Clause 7 Article 1 of Decision No. 1125/QĐ-TTg, prioritizing support for localities in epidemic hotspots, areas at risk of disease outbreaks, high birth rate areas, areas with high sex ratio at birth; localities with difficult socio-economic conditions, localities that have not yet achieved fiscal self-sufficiency, poor provinces, mountainous, border, coastal, island, Northwest, Central Highlands, Southwest, and Mekong Delta regions, and provinces severely affected by natural disasters (typhoons, floods).

2. Local budget:

a) Ensuring adequate resources from the local budget to perform the following tasks:

- Purchasing vaccination supplies (excluding syringes and safety boxes); contraceptives; common supplies, equipment, and chemicals for the Program;

- Disposing of: syringes, contraceptives, expired drugs, vaccines, patient samples, supplies, and chemicals (if any), hazardous waste (if any) under the Program; disposing of food, raw materials for food production and processing, supplies, and chemicals used in food production and business found to violate food safety laws during inspections, audits, and supervision under the Program (for ownerless goods);

- Supporting travel expenses for patients from poor households to check their health status at specialized medical facilities from district level upwards;

- Building, maintaining, and updating specialized information management systems and databases of Programs and Projects at the local level;

- Supporting salaries for health workers and population control staff; remuneration for dedicated staff and volunteers (including village health workers, traditional midwives, population control volunteers, community outreach workers implementing HIV/AIDS prevention activities); paying compensation to those directly involved in outbreak response and malaria and dengue fever prevention activities; supporting health workers transporting tuberculosis patients to county-level examination and treatment centers, supporting tuberculosis screening and drug distribution, and monitoring patient adherence to treatment.

- Establishing and implementing models for managing diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and mental health; models for preventing diseases among school-age children; models to improve nutritional status, implement family planning services, and handle medical emergencies according to specialized medical expertise;

- Training, instructing, and enhancing the capacity of primary healthcare staff; training, instructing, and conducting drills to enhance the capacity of target groups of projects at the grassroots level;

- Supporting local management of the Program; inspecting, supervising, and evaluating the Program at the local level;

b) Allocating counterpart funds for agencies and units along with the central budget to implement Project activities; integrating with other Programs, Projects, and related activities in the area to ensure the implementation of the Project's objectives, contents, and activities as stipulated in Decision No. 1125/QĐ-TTg;

3. Individual and organizational contributions from within and outside the country and other legitimate financial sources.

Article 3. Prepare, allocate, ||| decision budget estimates and settle accounts for state budget

1. The preparation, allocation, execution of budget estimates, and settlement of accounts for Program funding shall be carried out in accordance with the State Budget Law 2015 and guiding documents. In addition, this Circular provides further guidance on preparing budget estimates as follows:

a) Ministries, central agencies, and provincial People's Committees prepare detailed budget estimates for implementing the Program in the following year by project and expenditure category, and submit them to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Health before July 20 each year;

b) Based on the Program implementation budget estimates submitted by ministries, central agencies, and provincial People's Committees, taking into account the achievement of previous year's targets, epidemic situations, project phase goals from 2016 to 2020, and the Ministry of Finance's notification of the central government budget allocation for the next year (operational funds), the Ministry of Health will propose targets, tasks, and detailed plans for allocating central government operational funds by project and for ministries, central agencies, and localities, accompanied by explanations of principles, criteria, and allocation standards for each project, to be submitted to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment before August 15 each year;

2. Procurement of goods and services shall be carried out in accordance with the Bidding Law and guiding documents, consistent with established standards and norms;

3. For activities and tasks assigned budget estimates that are contracted out to other agencies or units, the supporting documents for settlement and final accounting retained by the agency or unit receiving the budget estimate include: Contract (with detailed budget approved by the lead agency), acceptance certificate, contract termination record, state budget payment voucher (budget withdrawal form), payment voucher (mandate payment), and other relevant documents (if any). Specific invoices and payment vouchers are kept by the agency directly executing the contract.

4. The preparation, allocation, and settlement of repair, upgrade, renovation, and expansion budget estimates for physical facilities shall be carried out in accordance with Circular No. 92/2017/TT-BTC dated September 18, 2017, issued by the Ministry of Finance, regarding the preparation, allocation, and settlement of budget estimates for the implementation of repairs, maintenance, renovations, upgrades, and expansions of physical facilities.

 

Chapter II

CONTENT AND GENERAL EXPENSE LEVELS

Article 4. Content and General Expenditure Levels of the Program

1. Expenditure for building, revising, supplementing programs, textbooks, training materials, and professional skill enhancement materials:

a) Building, revising, and supplementing programs and textbooks: The content and expenditure levels shall be in accordance with Points b, c, and d Clause 2 Article 4 Circular No. 123/2009/TT-BTC dated June 17, 2009 of the Ministry of Finance on the content and expenditure levels for building framework programs and compiling programs and textbooks for university, college, and vocational secondary education majors (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 123/2009/TT-BTC).

b) Expenditure for compiling, revising, and supplementing training materials and professional skill enhancement materials: The content and expenditure levels shall be in accordance with Points c and d Clause 2 Article 4 Circular No. 123/2009/TT-BTC.

c) Expenditure for building professional guidance manuals (if any): The expenditure level shall be based on actual occurrence, contracts, invoices, and other valid expense documents, and in accordance with laws on bidding, ordering, and assigning tasks.

2. Expenditure for short-term training, seminars, and professional skill enhancement:

a) Content and expenditure levels: In accordance with Circular No. 139/2010/TT-BTC dated September 21, 2010 of the Ministry of Finance on the preparation of budgets, management, and utilization of state budget funds for cadre and civil servant training and enhancement (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 139/2010/TT-BTC).

b) In addition to the expenditure items specified in Point a of this Clause, units assigned the task of organizing training and enhancement classes may use Program funds to support individuals not receiving salary from the state budget for the following items:

- Expenditure for meal allowances: In accordance with the expenditure levels applicable to cadres, civil servants, and public officials as stipulated in Circular No. 139/2010/TT-BTC;

- Travel expenses from place of residence to place of study (one round trip);

- Accommodation rental support expenses (in cases where the training institution does not have the conditions to arrange accommodation for students and they must rent);

The content and maximum expenditure levels for accommodation rental and travel expenses shall be in accordance with Clause 1 Article 5 and Article 7 Circular No. 40/2017/TT-BTC dated April 28, 2017 of the Ministry of Finance on travel expense regulations and expense regulations for organizing conferences for state agencies and public institutions (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 40/2017/TT-BTC). In cases where students provide their own transportation, they will be supported with travel expenses at a rate of 0.2 liters of gasoline per kilometer calculated based on administrative boundaries and gasoline prices at the time of study.

3. Expenditure for organizing meetings on planning, implementing, interim review, and final review of the Program and activities and component projects under the Program: The content and expenditure levels shall be in accordance with Circular No. 40/2017/TT-BTC.

4. Expenditure for organizing domestic scientific workshops and research activities serving the specialized content of the Program according to approved research outlines. The content and expenditure levels shall be in accordance with Joint Circular No. 27/2015/TTLT-BKHCN-BTC dated December 30, 2015 of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance on the allocation of expenditures for implementing science and technology tasks using state budget funds and Joint Circular No. 55/2015/TTLT-BTC-BKHCN dated April 22, 2015 of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance guiding the establishment, allocation, and settlement of budgets for science and technology tasks using state budget funds (hereinafter referred to as Joint Circular No. 55/2015/TTLT-BTC-BKHCN).

5. Expenditure for organizing international conferences on the contents and activities of the Program: The content and expenditure levels shall be implemented in accordance with Circular No. 01/2010/TT-BTC dated January 6, 2010 of the Ministry of Finance on expense regulations for hosting foreign guests working in Vietnam, organizing international conferences in Vietnam, and hosting domestic guests (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 01/2010/TT-BTC).

6. Expenditure for surveys, investigations, and statistics according to the specialized content of each Project: The content and expenditure levels shall be implemented in accordance with Article 3 and Article 4 Circular No. 109/2016/TT-BTC dated June 30, 2016 of the Ministry of Finance guiding the management, use, and settlement of budgets for conducting surveys, national comprehensive surveys (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 109/2016/TT-BTC).

7. Expenditure for building, managing, using, updating databases and data management software; building, updating, and managing information of Projects and Programs on electronic information websites and e-government portals:

a) For cases of project construction, the expenditure level is based on the approved project. The application of information technology project management shall be carried out in accordance with current regulations on information technology project management; industry standards and unit prices issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Finance, and relevant ministries and sectors. Some current regulations are as follows:

- Management of investment cost for information technology application projects: Implemented in accordance with Circular No. 06/2011/TT-BTTTT dated February 28, 2011 of the Ministry of Information and Communications on the preparation and management of investment costs for information technology applications;

- Standards for project management fees and consulting fees: Implemented in accordance with Decision No. 2378/QĐ-BTTTT dated December 30, 2016 of the Minister of Information and Communications announcing standards for project management fees and consulting fees for information technology investment applications using state budget funds;

- Project appraisal fees: Implemented in accordance with Circular No. 209/2016/TT-BTC dated November 10, 2016 of the Ministry of Finance on fee collection, payment, management, and use for project appraisal fees for investment construction projects and preliminary design appraisal fees.

- Costs for examination, approval of final accounts: implemented in accordance with the provisions of Circular No. 09/2016/TT-BTC dated January 18, 2016, issued by the Ministry of Finance on finalizing accounts for completed projects funded by state capital;

- Standards for hardware installation and software installation: implemented in accordance with Decision No. 1601/QĐ-BTTTT dated October 3, 2011, issued by the Minister of Information and Communications on announcing standards for hardware installation and software installation in information technology applications; Decision No. 1235/QĐ-BTTTT dated September 4, 2014, issued by the Minister of Information and Communications on amending and supplementing Decision No. 1601/QĐ-BTTTT dated October 3, 2011 on announcing standards for hardware installation and software installation in information technology applications;

- Standards for database creation: implemented in accordance with Decision No. 1595/QĐ-BTTTT dated October 3, 2011, issued by the Minister of Information and Communications on announcing standards for database creation in information technology application activities;

- Construction and upgrade costs for internal software: implemented in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Information and Communications on determining the costs for developing and upgrading internal software;

b) For information technology application expenditures that do not require project establishment: implemented in accordance with Circular No. 21/2010/TT-BTTTT dated September 8, 2010, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on the preparation of outlines and detailed budgets for information technology application activities using state budget funds but without the requirement to establish a project;

c) Costs for data entry, creation of hypertext pages, and creation of electronic information: implemented in accordance with Article 3 and Article 4 of Circular No. 194/2012/TT-BTC dated November 15, 2012, issued by the Ministry of Finance on the levels of expenditure for creating electronic information to maintain the regular operations of agencies and units using state budget funds;

d) Standardization costs: based on reference to economic-technical norms according to Decision No. 1595/QĐ-BTTTT dated October 3, 2011, issued by the Minister of Information and Communications on announcing standards for database creation in information technology application activities;

đ) Costs for renovation, repair of infrastructure, procurement of assets and equipment for information technology applications shall be carried out in accordance with the laws on bidding;

e) Costs for renting information technology services shall be carried out in accordance with Decision No. 80/2014/QĐ-TTg dated December 30, 2014, issued by the Prime Minister on pilot leasing of information technology services in state agencies and in accordance with the laws on bidding;

g) Costs for renting maintenance, minor repairs of information infrastructure equipment, and maintaining network services (including leasing transmission lines, bandwidth, domain name maintenance, IP addresses, information collection, storage, and transmission, other online services): implemented in accordance with contracts, invoices, and lawful receipts and in accordance with the laws on bidding;

           8. Costs for hiring domestic experts under the decision of the head of the agency or unit implementing the Program. The level of expenditure shall be implemented in accordance with Circular No. 02/2015/TT-BLĐTBXH dated January 12, 2015, issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs on salary levels for domestic consulting experts as the basis for estimating the tender package for consulting services applied under time-based contracts using state capital. In cases where independent consulting organizations are hired, it shall be carried out according to the approved budget estimate and in accordance with the laws on bidding;

9. Costs for study, exchange of experience, and international cooperation to enhance capacity and effectively implement the activities of the Program: Content and expenditure levels are stipulated in Circular No. 01/2010/TT-BTC and Circular No. 40/2017/TT-BTC;

10. Costs for purchasing medicines, food samples, contraceptives, medical equipment, reagents, chemicals, consumables, special tools, equipment (training, communication, IT, and management) (hereinafter referred to as goods) used for the professional activities of each Project under the Program (including purchases for training and refresher courses for practical clinical and pre-clinical training of participants if applicable). Expenditure levels are based on lawful invoices and receipts and in accordance with the laws on bidding;

11. Costs for destroying syringes, medicines, vaccines, contraceptives, patient samples, materials, hazardous medical waste, expired chemicals (if any) under the Program; destruction of ownerless goods such as food, raw materials, materials, chemicals for food production and processing found during inspections and supervision campaigns under the Program according to the decision of competent state authorities;

a) Purchase of fuel, chemicals, materials for destruction (if any);

b) Renting warehouses for storing materials, chemicals, dangerous pathogens that must be destroyed;

c) Renting machinery and equipment for destruction purposes (if necessary);

The expenditure levels specified in Points a, b, and c of this Clause are based on the approved budget estimate, contracts, invoices, and lawful receipts consistent with market prices at the time of implementation in the locality;

d) Transportation costs: medicines, vaccines, contraceptives, patient samples, food, raw materials for food production and processing; materials, chemicals for production and business that need to be destroyed; equipment, personnel participating in destruction. Expenditure levels are stipulated in Clause 13 of this Article.

d) Hiring labor to carry out destruction (if any), expenditure level: equal to 1.5 times the minimum wage level (calculated per day) as prescribed by the Government for the minimum wage level applicable to workers under labor contracts. In cases where it is necessary to hire other agencies or units to carry out destruction, the expenditure level shall be implemented according to the contract and invoice of the unit carrying out the destruction.

12. Expenditure on repair, maintenance, regular upkeep, calibration, and adjustment of equipment, storage facilities (drugs, contraceptives, biological products, disease samples, materials, chemicals) serving the specialized activities of each Project under the Program approved by the competent authority: According to legal invoices and regulations on bidding.

13. Expenditure on transportation of goods, disease samples, test samples from sampling locations to testing facilities to serve the specialized activities of each project, machinery, and equipment; travel expenses of health staff, population control staff, service personnel, collaborators, and subjects during screening, detection campaigns, and implementation of campaigns:

a) In cases of travel and transportation using public transport means: The support level is based on the fare of public transport means;

b) In cases of transportation via postal services: The support level is based on the current postal service rates;

c) In cases of hiring vehicles for road travel (if necessary): The head of the agency or unit decides on the use of transportation means. The expenditure level is based on the contract for hiring the vehicle or receipt with the owner of the vehicle (taking into account the rates of other transport means operating at the same time in that region) within the allocated budget estimate.

d) In cases of self-provisioning of vehicles for road travel (if necessary): The maximum support level is 0.2 liters of gasoline/km calculated based on administrative distance and the gasoline price at the time of use.

In cases of transporting multiple goods, equipment, disease samples, and people on the same means of transport, the maximum payment level shall not exceed the aforementioned provisions.

14. Hiring guides who also act as interpreters of ethnic languages and guides who do not act as interpreters of ethnic languages: The expenditure level is based on the provisions of Circular No. 109/2016/TT-BTC.

15. Translation costs:

a) Translating foreign languages into Vietnamese and vice versa: Content and expenditure levels are carried out according to the provisions of Point g Clause 1 Article 2 of Circular No. 01/2010/TT-BTC;

b) Interpreting costs (spoken translation) from Vietnamese to ethnic minority languages and vice versa: The rate of remuneration is equivalent to the expenditure level for hiring guides who also act as interpreters of ethnic languages as stipulated in Circular No. 109/2016/TT-BTC;

c) Translation costs of documents from Vietnamese to ethnic minority languages and vice versa: Apply the expenditure level for translating documents from Vietnamese to ethnic minority languages as stipulated in Circular No. 338/2016/TT-BTC dated December 28, 2016, issued by the Ministry of Finance regarding the preparation of budgets, management, and settlement of state budget funds to ensure the work of drafting normative legal documents and perfecting the legal system.

16. Supporting donors and sample collectors for testing according to medical regulations to determine diseases under the Program (specifically for the Expanded Immunization Project, this only applies to the following diseases: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, rubella, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, pneumonia/meningitis caused by Hib, tuberculosis, and polio) during investigations, inspections, audits, and monitoring, including:

a) Supporting sample collectors for disease specimens, items, and blood samples (excluding cerebrospinal fluid samples): 7,000 VND per sample;

b) Supporting sample collectors for cerebrospinal fluid samples (if any): 30,000 VND per sample;

c) Supporting donors for venous blood samples: 30,000 VND per sample, donors for capillary blood samples: 10,000 VND per sample.

17. Expenditure on professional inspection, evaluation, supervision, technical support at all levels, and guidance on implementing specialized activities under the Program:

a) Content and expenditure levels are based on the provisions of Circular No. 40/2017/TT-BTC and Clause 1 and Clause 2 Section II of Circular No. 06/2007/TT-BTC dated January 26, 2007, issued by the Ministry of Finance guiding the preparation of budgets, management, and use of funds to ensure the inspection of policy implementation, strategies, planning, and plans;

For inter-agency inspection, evaluation teams: The leading agency or unit of the inspection team is responsible for covering the travel expenses of team members according to the prescribed regulations (transportation fees, accommodation allowances, rental fees for accommodation at the destination, and baggage and document shipping fees) for the duration of the mission. To avoid duplicate expenditures, the leading agency or unit of the inspection team must notify in writing (in the invitation or summons letter) the agency or unit sending personnel on the mission that they do not need to settle these expenses;

b) In cases of epidemiological surveillance, disease surveillance, food safety surveillance, nutrition surveillance, reproductive health surveillance, gender imbalance surveillance at birth, congenital disease and defect surveillance, school hygiene and sanitation surveillance within the scope of Projects, health and population control staff conducting surveillance will be supported at a rate of 40,000 VND per person per day for surveillance outside the travel allowance regulations stipulated in Circular No. 40/2017/TT-BTC;

Additionally, depending on the requirements of each inspection, audit, or surveillance activity, Program funds may be used to implement additional contents such as:

- Collecting, preserving, or purchasing test samples, analysis samples: Collection is carried out according to Clause 16 of this Article; preservation and purchase of samples are based on valid invoices and receipts and are consistent with market prices in the locality at the time of collection;

- Transporting analysis samples from the collection site to the testing facility: As stipulated in Clause 13 of this Article;

- Hiring guides who also act as interpreters of ethnic languages and guides who do not act as interpreters of ethnic languages: As stipulated in Clause 14 of this Article;

- Testing and inspection costs for samples: The expenditure level is based on the healthcare service fee set by the competent authority for public healthcare facilities currently in effect. For testing and inspection services transitioning from fees to pricing mechanisms not included in the list of products and services priced by the State: The expenditure level is based on the service provider's price.

- Expenses for surveys, investigations, and epidemiological statistics: As stipulated in Clause 6 of this Article.

18. Expenses for organizing counseling, specialized talks to guide patients and their families on prevention, treatment, care, and psychological support for patients; supporting the organization of activities of clubs implementing counseling on the content of the program:

a) In the case of centralized counseling, talks, and guidance:

- Renting venue, tables, chairs, backdrops, and canopies (if any): The level of expenditure shall be carried out according to the contract (in the case of renting services) or the market price in the locality and valid expense receipts (receipts or invoices);

- Water expenses for participants: As stipulated in Clause 3, Article 12 of Circular No. 40/2017/TT-BTC;

- Remuneration for those conducting counseling: The level of expenditure shall be as prescribed in Point 1.1, Clause 1, Article 3 of Circular No. 139/2010/TT-BTC. In cases where the speaker is a collaborator or health worker at the village level: Apply the remuneration level for lecturers and speakers who are officials, civil servants, and employees working at units from the district level and below;

- Translation expenses (if any): The level of expenditure as stipulated in Clause 15 of this Article;

          b) Specifically, in the case of monthly regular counseling at HIV testing facilities and drug substitution treatment centers:

- Remuneration for those conducting counseling: VND 100,000 per counselor/session, with a maximum of VND 500,000 per counselor/month. The number of counselors is decided by the head of the local health and population authorities;

- Translation expenses (if any): The level of expenditure as stipulated in Clause 15 of this Article;

          c) In the case of counseling and guidance in the community:

- Travel allowances shall be reimbursed according to the provisions of Circular No. 40/2017/TT-BTC, and a subsidy shall be provided based on the type of counseling recipient at VND 15,000 per person/counseling session, with a maximum of VND 300,000 per counselor/month. For food safety counseling, the expenditure level is VND 30,000 per facility/counseling session, with a maximum of VND 450,000 per counselor/month;

- Interpreting fees (if any): The level of expenditure as stipulated in Clause 15 of this Article;

- Hiring guides who also interpret ethnic languages and guides who do not interpret ethnic languages (if any): As stipulated in Clause 14 of this Article.

19. Expenses for organizing screening, detection, management, campaigns, and mobile clinics in the community for diseases and activities under the Program's projects (including integrated disease diagnosis and treatment (hereinafter referred to as KCB) with disaster relief and national defense and security consolidation within the scope of combined military-civilian projects. Specifically, for the Expanded Immunization Project, only the following diseases will be implemented: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, rubella, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, pneumonia/meningitis caused by Hib, typhoid, tuberculosis, polio) (hereinafter referred to as screening). The content and expenditure levels include:

a) Laboratory test costs, biopsy procedures, histopathology slide preparation, and other medical technical services according to medical expertise (if any). The level of expenditure shall be carried out according to the current healthcare service prices set by the competent authority for public healthcare facilities;

b) Support for those directly involved in screening work outside the current travel allowance:

- In cases where they are currently receiving monthly salary and allowances from the state budget:

+ Direct examiners and testers (including doctors, medical assistants, nurses, nursing aides, midwives, laboratory technicians): The support level is VND 125,000 per person/day when performing in particularly difficult communes (hereinafter referred to as DBKK) coastal areas and islands, DBKK communes, border communes, safe zones as decided by the Prime Minister (hereinafter referred to as DBKK communes); VND 90,000 per person/day when performing in other communes;

+ Other direct service providers for screening work: The support level is VND 65,000 per person/day when performing in DBKK communes; VND 40,000 per person/day when performing in other communes;

- In cases where they are not receiving monthly salary and allowances from the state budget:

+ Direct examiners and testers: The support level is 1.3 times the minimum wage region (per day) as prescribed by the Government for workers under labor contracts;

+ Other direct service providers for screening work (including collaborators if any): The support level is the minimum wage region (per day) as prescribed by the Government for workers under labor contracts;

In cases where screening is combined with technology transfer to localities, the expenditure level for doctors, medical assistants, nursing aides, midwives, and laboratory technicians shall apply the remuneration level for lecturers as prescribed in Circular No. 139/2010/TT-BTC. Those participating in screening at the screening site shall not be entitled to travel allowances according to current regulations;

c) Venue rental, table, chair, backdrop, canopy (if any), fuel, electricity, water, and medical supplies for screening work: The level of expenditure shall be based on actual expenses supported by invoices and valid expense receipts;

d) Translation expenses (if any): The level of expenditure as stipulated in Clause 15 of this Article;

The duration of a screening round at a cluster and the minimum number of individuals screened per day shall comply with the Ministry of Health's professional regulations;

Participants in screening work may only enjoy one level of support as stipulated in this Clause or according to the special content expenditure regulations of the project or Program activity (if any);

20. Support for communes, wards, and towns to implement Program management work: The provincial People's Committee decides the appropriate support level based on local conditions and budget capacity;

21. Remuneration for health and population volunteers at communes, wards, and towns:

a) The target group (village-level health workers or others) and the number of volunteers in each commune: Decided by the head of the local health and population authorities for projects and activities that must have regular volunteers;

b) The support level for volunteers is as follows:

- For key-point communes, townships, and towns, and communes with difficult conditions: 200,000 VND/person/month/project (Projects 2, 4, 5, 6, 7) or one disease of Project 1 or one activity of Project 3;

- For the remaining communes: 150,000 VND/person/month/project (Projects 2, 4, 5, 6, 7) or one disease of Project 1 or one activity of Project 3;

In cases where the collaborator participates in multiple projects (Projects 2, 4, 5, 6, 7) or multiple diseases of Project 1 or activities of Project 3, for each additional project or one additional disease/activity, the collaborator will be supported an additional 50,000 VND/month;

22. Support for travel expenses (round trip, maximum three times) for patients from poor households to check their health condition at specialized healthcare facilities from district level upwards (for diseases not included in the list of diseases covered by the Health Insurance Fund and not yet supported by other sources of funding), according to the doctor's prescription after screening and detection in the community: The support level shall be implemented in accordance with Clause 13 of this Article, within the allocated budget estimate;

23. Support for healthcare facilities to build and implement models for managing, detecting, and recording patients with non-communicable diseases (including diabetes, hypertension, cerebrovascular accidents/stroke, myocardial infarction, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, mental health) in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Health. The amount of support: 200,000 VND/disease/healthcare facility/month to carry out the following contents:

a) Establish risk assessment forms, establish recording forms, establish patient interview sheets (if applicable);

b) Establish medical records or periodic follow-up sheets for patients as required by the Program;

c) Provide advice on preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases (including guidance on treatment adherence and health care advice);

24. Renting independent auditing services in cases where the State Audit Office does not conduct annual audits (if deemed necessary): carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law on bidding;

25. Cost for reviewing deaths when implementing projects and activities under the Program, if necessary, as decided by the competent authority:

a) Cost for convening the Review Board: Apply the cost for reviewing the content and finance of scientific and technological tasks as stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 9 of Circular Joint No. 55/2015/TTLT-BTC-BKHCN;

b) Travel expenses (if any): The cost level as stipulated in Decision No. 40/2017/TT-BTC;

c) Renting guide services (if necessary): The cost level as stipulated in Clause 14 of this Article;

26. Reward costs for collectives and individuals who have outstanding achievements in organizing and implementing the Program as decided by the competent authority. The content and cost levels are implemented in accordance with the laws on commendation and reward;

27. Costs from the counterpart funds of assistance projects: The content of expenditure according to the Agreement or Understanding with the donor. The cost level according to the current expenditure system, legal invoices, and receipts, and in accordance with the laws on bidding, within the allocated budget estimate;

 

Chapter III

SPECIAL CONTENT AND COST LEVELS OF PROJECTS

 

         Article 5. Special Content and Cost Levels of Project 1 - Prevention and Control of Certain Dangerous Infectious Diseases and Common Non-Communicable Diseases

1. Activities for leprosy prevention and control:

a) Expenditure for purchasing and producing special items to provide to leprosy patients in accordance with the regulations of the Minister of Health. Procurement shall be carried out in accordance with the laws on bidding;

b) Support for medical staff directly distributing medication and monitoring leprosy patients undergoing multi-drug therapy at home, in addition to the current travel allowance: The support level is as follows:

- For patients in the low-bacteria group, treated for a full course of 6-9 months: 200,000 VND/patient/treatment course;

- For patients in the high-bacteria group, treated for a full course of 12-18 months: 400,000 VND/patient/treatment course;

c) Patients with leprosy from poor households are supported:

- Functional aids for leprosy patients with disabilities as stipulated in Point b, Clause 2, Article 7 of this Circular;

- In cases where patients undergo drainage treatment at commune health stations or regional healthcare facilities, they are supported 50,000 VND/patient/day, with the support period not exceeding 20 days;

- In cases where patients with leprosy suffer severe reactions or complications requiring transportation from home to commune health stations, regional leprosy treatment centers, or regional general hospitals, they are supported transportation costs as stipulated in Clause 13, Article 4 of this Circular;

d) Payment for persons who detect new leprosy patients and refer or bring them to healthcare facilities for diagnosis:

- Patients in communes with difficult conditions: 300,000 VND/patient;

- Patients in other communes: 200,000 VND/patient;

2. Activities for tuberculosis prevention and control:

a) Support for medical staff conducting screening for primary tuberculosis sources (sputum smear-positive tuberculosis) in the community: Support level: 30,000 VND/tuberculosis patient;

b) Support for commune medical staff directly examining and transporting tuberculosis patients to the anti-tuberculosis team at the district level:

- For communes with difficult conditions: 50,000 VND/commune/month;

- For other communes: 30,000 VND/commune/month;

c) Support for medical staff directly distributing medication, monitoring, and supervising tuberculosis patients, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients, and latent tuberculosis patients completing treatment in the community in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health (National Tuberculosis Control Project):

- For communes with difficult conditions: 170,000 VND/patient/treatment course of 6-8 months; 150,000 VND/latent tuberculosis patient/treatment course; 200,000 VND/multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patient/treatment course of 9 months or 400,000 VND/multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patient/treatment course of 20 months;

- For other communes: 120,000 VND/patient/treatment course of 6-8 months; 100,000 VND/latent tuberculosis patient/treatment course; 150,000 VND/multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patient/treatment course of 9 months or 300,000 VND/multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patient/treatment course of 20 months;

3. Activities for malaria prevention and control:

a) Support for staff conducting malaria tests at household level:

- Testing to determine vector species: 5,000 VND/sample;

- Chemical sensitivity testing and mosquito-killing efficacy of each chemical (from mosquito capture, mosquito rearing, and developing sufficient mosquito quantity for a sample and testing): 600,000 VND per sample;

- Serological test for malaria diagnosis (from blood collection, transportation to storage and testing): VND 25,000 per sample;

- PCR test, gene sequencing: VND 30,000 per sample;

b) Support for staff at microscope stations: VND 150,000 per microscope station per month;

c) Payment for laborers setting mosquito traps at night: VND 130,000 per person per night;

d) Payment for staff directly spraying and treating mosquito repellent chemicals: The support level is 1.5 times the minimum wage level in the region (calculated per day) as prescribed by the Government for workers under labor contracts;

4. Dengue fever prevention and control activities:

          a) Support for staff conducting dengue fever diagnostic tests at households:

- Testing to determine vector species: 5,000 VND/sample;

- Chemical sensitivity testing and mosquito-killing efficacy of each chemical (from mosquito capture, mosquito rearing, and developing sufficient mosquito quantity for a sample and testing): 600,000 VND per sample;

- Serological test for dengue fever diagnosis (from blood collection, transportation to storage and testing): VND 25,000 per sample;

- PCR test, gene sequencing: VND 30,000 per sample;

b) Support for staff conducting virus culture and isolation, staff directly spraying and treating mosquito repellent chemicals, and staff directly implementing environmental sanitation activities, larva and pupa eradication at household level and during campaigns as follows:

- Support for staff conducting virus culture and isolation: VND 40,000 per sample;

- Payment for staff directly spraying and treating mosquito repellent chemicals: The support level is 1.5 times the minimum wage level in the region (calculated per day) as prescribed by the Government for workers under labor contracts;

- Payment for staff directly implementing environmental sanitation activities, larva and pupa eradication at household level and during campaigns (excluding household members): VND 3,000 per household per occasion, with the maximum support level per day being equal to the minimum wage level in the region (calculated per day) as prescribed by the Government for workers under labor contracts.

5. Mental health protection:

a) Early detection, management, and treatment of mental patients:

Support for medical staff conducting Beck questionnaire or other depression assessment according to the regulations of the Minister of Health: VND 15,000 per questionnaire;

b) Support for medical staff at commune level assigned to regularly distribute medication to mental patients at home, and support for health workers at village level participating in functional recovery for mental patients in the community: The number of medical staff and health workers to be supported shall be decided by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or delegated to the head of specialized agencies to decide. The support levels are as follows:

- Support for medical staff at commune level assigned to regularly distribute medication to mental patients at home: VND 150,000 per commune per month;

- Support for health workers at village level participating in functional recovery for mental patients in the community: VND 20,000 per patient per month in plain areas and urban areas, VND 25,000 per patient per month in mountainous, highland, and island areas but not exceeding VND 100,000 per village per month.

6. Activities for diabetes prevention and control and prevention of iodine deficiency disorders:

Support for medical staff during screening rounds and campaigns:

a) Support for medical staff performing venipuncture and centrifugation of blood samples for serological testing: VND 20,000 per sample;

b) Support for medical staff performing glucose tolerance test procedures: VND 5,000 per sample;

c) Payment for rapid iodine salt testing: VND 2,000 per sample;

d) Payment for thyroid ultrasound examination during investigation, evaluation, and survey: VND 10,000 per person examined;

đ) Payment for drinking water and glucose for subjects undergoing glucose tolerance test: VND 10,000 per person.

7. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma:

Support for primary healthcare staff guiding exercise and functional recovery once for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in the community: The support level is VND 15,000 per patient or VND 100,000 per healthcare worker per day if guiding at least seven patients at the same location.

8. School health activities:

Support for integrating teaching of knowledge on school disease and disability prevention in educational institutions within the national education system:

         a) Support for preparing school health curricula: As stipulated in Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular;

         b) Payment for lecturers teaching school health topics: As stipulated in Circular No. 139/2010/TT-BTC.

Article 6. Content and Special Expenditure Levels of Project 2 - Expanded Immunization Program

1. Expenditure to support health workers for children to take or receive eight doses of vaccine according to the Program's regulations:

a) For communes with difficult conditions: VND 24,000 per child who takes or receives all eight doses (equivalent to VND 3,000 per child per dose taken or received);

b) For other communes: VND 12,000 per child who takes or receives all eight doses (equivalent to VND 1,500 per child per dose taken or received).

2. Expenditure to support health workers administering hepatitis B vaccine to newborns within 24 hours of birth at hospitals or healthcare facilities; administering one of the following vaccines: Japanese encephalitis B, cholera, typhoid, measles-rubella, DPT4 to children aged 18 months; vaccinating children during supplementary immunization campaigns:

a) For communes with difficult conditions: VND 4,000 per child per dose (per injection);

b) For other communes: VND 2,000 per child per dose (per injection);

3. Expenditure to support the administration of full doses of tetanus toxoid vaccine to pregnant women and women of reproductive age:

a) For communes with difficult conditions: VND 4,000 per person receiving full doses;

b) For other communes: VND 2,000 per person receiving full doses.

4. Expenditure for surveillance and investigation of one case of acute flaccid paralysis from the day of disease detection until the 60th day, collecting and transferring samples as prescribed:

- For communes with difficult conditions: VND 520,000 per case;

- For other communes: VND 400,000 per case;

5. Expenditure for surveillance and investigation of one suspected neonatal tetanus, suspected measles, suspected rubella, suspected Japanese encephalitis, or suspected stillbirth from the day of case detection, conducting and completing the investigation form as decided by the competent authority:

- For communes with difficult conditions: VND 300,000 per case;

- For other communes: VND 150,000 per case.

6. Expenditure for compensation when using vaccines in the expanded immunization program that seriously affect the health and lives of vaccinated individuals: The level of compensation shall be as stipulated in Decree No. 104/2016/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2016 of the Government on vaccination activities.

7. Expenditure for purchasing insurance for vaccine and injection supplies stored in warehouses: According to the contract and invoice of the insurance provider.

Article 7. Content and Special Expenditure Levels of Project 3 - Population and Development

1. Population Activities - Family Planning (FP):

a. Expenditure to support the implementation of sterilization policies:

- Target beneficiaries: People belonging to poor households, near-poor households, social welfare recipients; people living in communes in provinces with a total fertility rate above 2.3 children; people working at sea for 15 days or more;

- Level of support: VND 300,000 per person voluntarily undergoing sterilization;

- Support for travel expenses for people voluntarily undergoing sterilization traveling to centers for sterilization procedures, health workers traveling to communes or clusters for surgery: The expenditure level is as stipulated in Clause 13, Article 4 of this Circular;

b. Expenditure for storing and accepting contraceptive devices (hereinafter referred to as CTDs): The expenditure level is based on contracts, invoices, and legitimate documents, and in accordance with current laws on bidding; transportation costs for CTDs are as stipulated in Clause 13, Article 4 of this Circular;

c. Free distribution of CTDs according to the list issued by the Ministry of Health:

- Beneficiaries of free CTDs: People belonging to poor households, near-poor households; social welfare recipients; people living in communes in provinces with a total fertility rate above 2.3 children; people working at sea before long-term trips (15 days or more) and upon returning to coastal villages with 200 or more people working at sea;

- Agencies, units, and individuals assigned the task of providing free CTDs are responsible for fully recording the list of beneficiaries according to the guidelines of the project's main unit;

d. Implementing social marketing of CTDs according to the CTD list: The organization and implementation of social marketing of CTDs and financial management mechanisms follow current regulations;

e. Expenditure for quality testing of CTDs: Based on the testing price set by the competent state agency or in accordance with current laws on bidding;

f. Expenditure for family planning services and handling complications according to medical expertise for voluntary sterilization subjects and those provided free CTDs (implants, injectable contraceptives, implants):

- Expenditure for family planning services and handling complications according to medical expertise: The expenditure level is implemented according to the service fee of the competent authority for public healthcare facilities currently in effect;

- Expenditure for administering contraceptive injections: According to the current injection service fee for public healthcare facilities;

- Support for travel expenses (one round trip) for patients from poor households, voluntary sterilization subjects, or those provided free CTDs (implants, injectable contraceptives, implants) who suffer medical complications and need to be checked at specialized healthcare facilities from the district level upwards (for diseases not covered by health insurance and not supported by other funding sources) according to the doctor's instructions after community screening: The support level is implemented according to Clause 13, Article 4 of this Circular.

g. Pre-natal and neonatal screening activities:

- The Ministry of Health selects the number of communes to implement in line with the project's objectives within the allocated budget. The head of the agency or unit assigned the funds for pre-natal and neonatal screening activities decides on selecting healthcare facilities with the necessary conditions and capacity to carry out these activities in accordance with the law on bidding and ordering public services;

- Beneficiaries of pre-natal and neonatal screening services: Are people belonging to poor households, near-poor households, social welfare recipients, and residents in high-risk areas, dioxin-contaminated areas, and without health insurance cards;

- Content and expenditure levels of pre-natal and neonatal screening activities:

+ Examination, ultrasound, and necessary tests for prenatal and neonatal screening and diagnosis according to the medical procedures specified by the Minister of Health: The cost shall be based on the current service fee for healthcare services (this cost includes the fees for collecting capillary blood samples from newborns' heels, blood samples from newborns' heels, and blood samples from mothers' fingers for screening and prenatal diagnosis).

+ Cost of sending notification results of screening subjects (including both negative and positive results) according to the current postal service fee (if applicable).

+ Travel expenses when transferring to another level of care according to the technical specialization levels and the referral decision of the head of the healthcare facility providing the screening and prenatal diagnosis services: The cost shall be as stipulated in Clause 13, Article 4 of this Circular.

h) Pre-marriage health examination according to the medical procedures specified by the Minister of Health:

- Eligible beneficiaries: Households living in poverty, near-poor households, social welfare recipients, people residing in high-risk areas, and dioxin-contaminated areas.

- The cost shall be implemented at the current service fee for healthcare services set by the competent authority for public healthcare facilities.

i) Cost of updating demographic and reproductive health information of households into the initial record book on demographic and reproductive health by community workers: VND 5,000 per information collection form from at least five households already recorded in the book or from one new household.

k) Population control costs in coastal and island regions:

- Health check-ups, risk factor assessments, Rh factor testing, hepatitis B virus testing, and other factors directly affecting pregnancy, fetal development, and fetal quality for couples preparing to marry from poor households, those with meritorious service, and ethnic minorities at high risk of having children with congenital disabilities: The cost shall be implemented at the current service fee for healthcare services set by the competent authority for public healthcare facilities.

- Health examinations and check-ups for pregnant women at high risk due to marine environmental impacts in pilot intervention models ensuring normal fetal development and health for pregnant women living and working in brackish water areas, estuaries, river mouths, and sea ports in coastal communes: The cost shall be implemented at the current service fee for healthcare services set by the competent authority for public healthcare facilities.

- Health examinations and check-ups for sexually transmitted disease prevention, unwanted pregnancy prevention, and safe abortion for individuals aged 15 to 24 who are unmarried, not enrolled in school, unemployed, or have unstable employment in coastal communes, industrial zones, export processing zones, tourist areas, economic zones, harbors, fishing ports, river mouths, and sea ports: The cost shall be implemented at the current service fee for healthcare services set by the competent authority for public healthcare facilities.

l) Cost of supporting village-level healthcare staff in post-operative home care for voluntary sterilization patients (if applicable): VND 50,000 per voluntary sterilization patient.

m) Cost of supporting one village-level population worker who has not received salary or allowance from the state budget: The support amount equals half the base salary per person per month.

n) Cost of building models for reproductive health intervention services: The Minister of Health approves the model at the central level, and the People's Committee of the province approves the model at the local level. The content and cost are carried out according to the current financial expenditure regulations.

o) Cost of repairing and reinforcing infrastructure for warehouses storing and preserving contraceptive supplies, counseling centers, and reproductive health services; service providers for family planning, pre-natal and neonatal diagnostic facilities at the central and provincial levels as approved by the competent authority: The cost shall be based on valid invoices and expense receipts and in accordance with the legal provisions on bidding.

p) Cost of printing record books and tracking documents for service providers of reproductive health services; cards for tracking target groups for reporting purposes under the Program: The cost shall be based on valid invoices and expense receipts and in accordance with the legal provisions on bidding.

2.     Community-based rehabilitation activities for persons with disabilities:

a)  Cost of building rehabilitation models at primary healthcare facilities. The content and cost are implemented according to Articles 7, 8, and 9 of Joint Circular No. 55/2015/TTLT-BTC-BKHCN.

b) Cost of supporting persons with disabilities from poor households, ethnic minority households, and disabled children under six years old (hereinafter referred to as persons with disabilities) participating in rehabilitation models:

- Surgical and orthopedic costs (if applicable) for persons with disabilities not covered by the Health Insurance Fund: According to the current healthcare service fee set by the competent authority for public healthcare facilities.

- Cost of supporting orthopedic devices (if applicable): VND 650,000 per patient.

- Cost of supporting appropriate rehabilitation exercise equipment for persons with disabilities: VND 1,300,000 per patient.

3. Activities for elderly health care:

a) Cost of disseminating basic knowledge about elderly health care; guiding elderly people on disease prevention, treatment, and self-care: The content and cost are implemented according to Point a, Clause 1, Article 3 of Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTC dated February 18, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Finance on managing and using funds for initial health care for the elderly at their place of residence; congratulating, celebrating longevity, and recognizing and rewarding the elderly.

b) Cost of implementing pilot models for long-term health care; community-based health care models, and centralized health care models for the elderly approved by the Minister of Health. The content and cost are carried out according to the current financial expenditure regulations.

4. Reproductive health care activities:

a) Funding for midwives in mountainous, remote, and island villages who have been trained and are directly implementing community reproductive health activities (excluding those already receiving the village health worker allowance under Decision No. 75/2009/QD-TTg dated May 11, 2009 of the Prime Minister on the allowance system for village health workers): 0.3 times the minimum wage base/person/month (only one midwife per village will be supported);

b) Funding for midwife kits, clean delivery packages, and health monitoring books for mothers and children according to guidelines issued by the Minister of Health: Procurement shall be carried out in accordance with the legal provisions on public bidding.

5. Activities to improve child nutrition

a) Funding for purchasing raw materials for practical nutrition training and food preparation techniques for pregnant women and caregivers of children under five years old suffering from malnutrition or overweight: 6,000 VND/person;

b) Funding for purchasing and transporting nutritional products to be provided free of charge to pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under five years old suffering from malnutrition in poor households, near-poor households, social welfare beneficiaries, and areas urgently requiring nutritional support. Purchasing and transportation shall be conducted based on legal invoices and receipts and in accordance with legal provisions on public bidding within the approved budget;

c) Funding for providing vitamin A supplementation to children aged six months to sixty months at the community level:

- For communes with difficult conditions: 4,000 VND/child/dose (per administration);

- For other communes: 2,000 VND/child/dose (per administration).

Article 8. Contents and funding levels for Project 4 - Food Safety (FS)

1. Funding for deploying testing techniques and evaluating testing methods; implementing international and regional testing methods, and assessing laboratory quality:

a) Funding for proficiency testing and inter-laboratory comparison. The specific contents and funding levels include:

- Funding for developing a proposed testing program outline: 1,000,000 VND/outline;

- Proficiency testing and inter-laboratory comparison both internationally and domestically: Funding levels according to contracts, legal expense invoices, and receipts;

- Hiring proficiency testing experts (if necessary): Funding levels as stipulated in Clause 8, Article 4 of this Circular;

- Funding for convening the proficiency testing review board: Applying the funding level for reviewing the content and finance of scientific and technological tasks as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 9 of Joint Circular No. 55/2015/TTLT-BTC-BKHCN;

- Consolidating and processing analysis results from various laboratories: 1,000,000 VND/report;

- Sending analysis results to management agencies as required: Funding levels according to postal service rates;

b) Funding for calibrating testing equipment serving the Program: Funding levels according to testing service prices as stipulated by laws on pricing;

c) Funding for standardizing laboratories according to TCVN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standards for food testing facilities under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, including:

- Developing and standardizing ISO testing methods: 500,000 VND/testing method;

- Supporting standardization staff: Funding level of 100,000 VND/person/day, maximum not exceeding 500,000 VND/person/month;

d) Internal audit funding not exceeding twice per year:

- Funding for developing internal audit outlines: 1,000,000 VND/outline;

- Hiring consulting experts for internal audit supervision (if necessary): Funding levels as stipulated in Clause 8, Article 4 of this Circular;

- Internal audit funding: Applying the funding level for reviewing the content and finance of scientific and technological tasks as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 9 of Joint Circular No. 55/2015/TTLT-BTC-BKHCN;

- Consolidating and reporting internal audit results: 1,000,000 VND/report;

- Supporting standardization staff for documentation, internal audit supervision: 200,000 VND/staff/audit round; maximum not exceeding 5 staff/audit round.

2. Funding for preventing food poisoning and foodborne diseases

a) Funding for data analysis and information reporting on food poisoning incidents: 2,600,000 VND/food poisoning incident;

b) Payment for personnel directly investigating and handling food poisoning and foodborne disease outbreaks (excluding travel expenses; if staff have already received epidemic prevention allowances from other sources, they will not receive these payments): Support levels as follows:

- In flood, disaster, and epidemic outbreak areas: 130,000 VND/person/day;

- In other areas: 100,000 VND/person/day;

c) Funding for establishing model programs for ensuring food safety in catering services and street food businesses, and collective kitchens at localities. The head of the specialized provincial state management unit decides. Contents and funding levels include:

- Funding for developing outlines: 1,000,000 VND/outline;

- Hiring consulting experts to evaluate models, guide program establishment, and supervise models (including preliminary evaluations to assess program management quality): Funding levels as stipulated in Clause 8, Article 4 of this Circular;

- Other contents as decided by authorized authorities: Funding levels shall be implemented according to current regulations and this Circular, within the approved budget.

3. Funding for ensuring food safety in agricultural product and aquatic product production

a) Funding for origin inspections of imported agricultural and aquatic products according to technical guidelines issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development;

b) Funding for national food safety monitoring programs for agricultural and aquatic products:

- Funding for investigations, surveys, and statistics: As stipulated in Clause 6, Article 4 of this Circular;

- Funding for inspections and monitoring: As stipulated in Clause 17, Article 4 of this Circular;

c) Funding for risk assessment activities for agricultural and aquatic products. Contents and funding levels include:

- Funding for developing practice guidance materials: As stipulated in Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular;

- Funding for establishing a database on warnings, cause investigations, and recalls of non-compliant agricultural and aquatic products: As stipulated in Clause 7, Article 4 of this Circular;

- Sampling, hiring for sample analysis, evaluating food safety indicators, conducting enhanced inspections and audits in cases with signs of violations (when there are food safety warnings, incidents, or suspected violations): The sampling inspection and audit costs shall be as stipulated in Clause 16 and Clause 17, Article 4 of this Circular; hiring for sample analysis and evaluation of indicators shall be based on service testing fees as prescribed by laws on prices.

4. Funding support for establishing and applying certain models in production and business, chain linkage models, advanced management programs (GMP, GHP, VietGAP, HACCP, ISO 22000, etc.) approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Minister of Industry and Trade. Models at the provincial level shall be decided by the head of the specialized provincial state management unit. Content and funding levels include:

a) Drafting a framework: VND 1,000,000 per framework;

b) Hiring experts to assess model pilot sites, guide program establishment, and monitor models (including trial assessments to verify and monitor the effectiveness of quality management programs of the model): Funding levels as stipulated in Clause 8, Article 4 of this Circular;

c) For small and medium-sized production and business establishments applying food safety quality management programs for the first time (production models, chain linkage models, advanced management programs), the following support will be provided during the first year:

- Sampling, analyzing, and evaluating some hygiene food safety indicators according to the specialized regulations approved by competent authorities: Sampling inspection and audit costs shall be as stipulated in Clause 16 and Clause 17, Article 4 of this Circular. Costs for hiring sample analysis and evaluating indicators: based on service testing fees as prescribed by laws on prices;

- Supporting rapid monitoring tools for small and medium-sized production and business establishments according to the regulations of the authority that approves the model, within the allocated budget;

5. Funding support for building advanced models meeting standards for safe food markets. Central models shall be decided by the Minister of Industry and Trade, local models shall be decided by the head of the specialized provincial state management unit. Content and funding levels include:

a) Hiring experts to assess model pilot sites, guide program establishment, and monitor models (including trial assessments to verify and monitor the effectiveness of quality management programs of the model): Funding levels as stipulated in Clause 8, Article 4 of this Circular;

b) Other contents according to the decision of the competent authority: implementation costs shall follow current regulations and those stipulated in this Circular, within the approved budget;

6. Funding for visiting models of hygienic food safety markets to establish and replicate models in localities: Content and funding levels shall apply according to Circular No. 40/2017/TT-BTC;

7. Support for renovating and repairing infrastructure for units assigned the task of testing and state management of food safety: Funding levels shall be based on the renovation and repair project approved by the competent authority and in accordance with laws on bidding;

8. Inspecting and supervising the implementation of food safety regulations: As stipulated in Clause 17, Article 4 of this Circular.

Article 9. Content and Special Expenditure Levels of Project 5 – Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS

1. Strengthening HIV/AIDS Testing:

a) Expenditure for HIV testing and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing to serve the specialized activities of the Program during HIV/AIDS epidemic surveillance rounds, STI surveillance (including focused surveillance, detection surveillance, integrated behavior and biological indicator surveillance) of individuals who must undergo HIV testing according to the law (including investigation rounds and research support): The expenditure level shall be applied according to the service fee for medical examination and treatment (KCB), the service fee for HIV/AIDS examination and treatment and prevention of HIV transmission approved by the competent authority for public health facilities;

b) Expenditure for supporting drug testing in blood and urine and other routine tests according to the Ministry of Health's regulations for people in poor households, near-poor households, ethnic minorities living in areas with difficult socio-economic conditions participating in opiate substitution therapy: The expenditure level shall be applied according to the service fee for medical examination and treatment (KCB), the service fee for opiate substitution therapy examination and treatment approved by the competent authority for public health facilities;

c) Supporting high-risk individuals for blood samples and specimens: 30,000 VND/sample.

2. Expenditure for Implementing Harm Reduction Interventions and Preventing HIV Transmission:

a) Subsidy for community outreach staff who have been issued cards: 500,000 VND/person/month. Community outreach staff who bring high-risk individuals for HIV testing with positive results or for antiretroviral treatment will receive additional support of 200,000 VND/person, but not exceeding 600,000 VND/month. In cases where community outreach staff have already received remuneration from other funding sources, they shall not receive remuneration from the Program’s funding source and vice versa;

b) Monthly support for peer educators' group activities:

- Monthly activity support: 10,000 VND/member/month, but a maximum of 1,200,000 VND/group/year;

- Support for materials, communication tools, labor protection equipment for intervention collection, uniforms for peer educators' group activities according to the quota set by the provincial health department head;

c) Support for慰问小组同伴教育者成员生病时的探望：每次100,000 VND，每年最多3次；

d) One-time allowance for peer educators who have made significant contributions to HIV/AIDS prevention and control work and are in difficult circumstances: 200,000 VND/member;

The number of community outreach staff who have been issued cards, the number of groups, and the number of members in peer educators' groups shall be determined by the local health department head in accordance with the actual situation of the locality;

e) External quality assurance for laboratories. The expenditure level shall be applied according to the external quality assurance service fee for HIV laboratories issued by the Ministry of Health;

3. Expenditure for HIV/AIDS Treatment Support and Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission:

a) HIV/AIDS Treatment Support:

- People infected with HIV due to occupational accidents, medical risks, those at risk of HIV infection when participating in rescue operations, crime prevention, pregnant women, children under 6 years old, the poor, ethnic minorities residing in areas with difficult socio-economic conditions (excluding those whose medical examination and treatment costs have been reimbursed from the social health insurance fund or supported from other funding sources) shall be supported:

+ Costs for implementing HIV-related tests according to the Ministry of Health's regulations to serve treatment work. The expenditure level shall be applied according to the test fee, the service fee for medical examination and treatment of HIV/AIDS approved by the competent authority for public health facilities;

+ Costs for treating opportunistic infections for HIV-infected individuals. The support amount is 200,000 VND/person/year;

- HIV-infected individuals in regular education institutions, educational reform schools, rehabilitation-labor-social education centers, social welfare institutions, prisons, detention centers: Opportunistic infection treatment support shall be provided according to Decision No. 96/2007/QĐ-TTg dated June 28, 2007 of the Government on the management, care, counseling, and treatment of HIV-infected individuals and prevention of HIV transmission in educational institutions, educational reform schools, centers, social welfare institutions, prisons, detention centers, and guiding documents for the decision;

b) Support for volunteers participating in HIV-infected patient care and treatment in communities in areas with difficult socio-economic conditions: The support amount is 350,000 VND/person/month. The number of volunteers shall be decided by the provincial health department head in accordance with the number of HIV/AIDS patients requiring care and treatment in the province;

c) Support for preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission: Expenditure for HIV testing for pregnant women voluntarily undergoing HIV testing and children under 18 months born to HIV/AIDS-infected mothers. The expenditure level shall be applied according to the service fee for medical examination and treatment (KCB), the service fee for HIV/AIDS examination and treatment approved by the competent authority for public health facilities;

d) HIV-infected individuals who die and are abandoned or whose relatives cannot be identified: The facility responsible for burial shall be supported for funeral expenses, body transportation, and cremation according to the law on prevention and control of infectious diseases. The funeral expense shall not exceed 30 times the social assistance standard stipulated in Decree No. 136/2013/NĐ-CP dated October 21, 2013 of the Government on social assistance policies for social welfare beneficiaries.

Article 10. Content and Special Expenditure Levels of Project 6 - Ensuring Safe Blood and Preventing and Controlling Certain Hematological Diseases

1. Organizing blood donation mobilization programs and events: The head of the unit responsible for implementing the decision shall organize such programs and events according to the current expenditure regulations within the allocated budget.

2. Expenditure on implementing external quality control testing screening programs to ensure safe blood transfusion and prevent HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis transmission:

           Content and expenditure levels are stipulated in Clause 19, Article 4 of this Circular, in addition, the following support is provided:

           a) Costs for collecting materials, data entry, result synthesis, and report writing: 150,000 VND/unit;

           b) Updating materials and quality-related procedures concerning EQAS: 500,000 VND/procedure;

           c) Support costs for sample bank construction and maintenance personnel: 10,000 VND/sample;

           d) Support costs for sample preparation and testing personnel: 100,000 VND/sample.

           3. Regarding support for activities to build a reserve blood donor force to establish a living blood bank: Content and expenditure levels are stipulated in Clause 19, Article 4 of this Circular, in addition, funding for planning, program development, and report writing is supported: up to 500,000 VND at the commune and district level; 1,000,000 VND at the provincial level; 2,000,000 VND at the central level.

           Article 11. Content and Special Expenditure Levels of Project 7 - Military-Civilian Medical Cooperation

1. One-time repair and supplementation costs for essential medical equipment at military-civilian healthcare facilities in border and island areas: The list of essential medical equipment requiring repair and supplementation is determined by the Minister of Health.

2. Building pilot models for military-civilian medical cooperation according to the approval of the Minister of Health: Based on the approved budget, the Minister of Health decides on the model at the central level, while the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee decides or delegates authority according to their decision-making power. Content and expenditure levels follow the current expenditure regulations.

3. Expenditure on training and drill activities for mobile medical forces to meet rapid intervention requirements in emergency situations, including:

a) Training drill allowance: 200,000 VND/person/day;

b) Expenditure on developing drill scripts, documentation, personal attire, renting medical equipment, vehicles, and other expenses related to training and drills (if applicable). The level of expenditure for developing drill scripts and documentation is decided by the project director within the approved budget. Personal attire, rental of medical equipment, vehicles, and other expenses related to training and drills (if applicable) are based on legitimate invoices and receipts and in accordance with legal provisions on bidding.

4. Mobile and campaign-based medical examination and treatment services for policy beneficiaries, the poor in communes under special hardship conditions, communes in regions I, II, and III of ethnic minority and mountainous areas, and key defense and security areas: Content and expenditure levels are stipulated in Clause 19, Article 4 of this Circular.

Article 12. Content and Special Expenditure Levels of Project 8 - Monitoring, Inspection, Supervision, Evaluation of Implementation of the Program and Health Communication

1. Expenditure for producing and editing programs, roundtable discussions, news reports on mass media (radio, television, press); expenditure for purchasing, producing, duplicating, distributing, repairing other communication products and information materials (leaflets, posters, banners, slogans, video clips) to enhance the content of information and propaganda about the Program: In cases where cost standards and unit prices have been established by competent authorities, such standards and prices shall be applied. In cases where cost standards and unit prices have not been established by competent authorities, the head of the agency responsible for implementing the communication tasks shall be responsible for selecting forms and contents of propaganda, communication programs that ensure economy and effectiveness within the budget allocated by the competent authority; priority should be given to communication through community radio stations. The implementation shall comply with the laws on bidding, ordering, and assigning public service tasks.

2. Expenditure for supporting communication and promotion of the Program's content on social networks to meet current communication needs (if applicable). The content and level of expenditure shall be governed by Clause 7, Article 4 of this Circular.

3. Expenditure for supporting the editing of communication contents in the community: VND 80,000 per piece of news or article from 350 to less than 600 words; VND 100,000 per article of 600 words or more.

4. Expenditure for paying royalties to authors and copyright owners; remuneration for persons participating in works related to journalistic publications, publishing products, collecting materials, and providing information for the creation of journalistic and publishing works on information and propaganda: The level of expenditure shall be governed by Decree No. 18/2014/NĐ-CP dated March 14, 2014 of the Government on the system of royalties in the field of journalism and publishing.

5. Expenditure for organizing roundtable discussions, exchanges, training sessions on communication education, and specialized lectures: The content and level of expenditure shall be governed by Point a, Clause 18, Article 4 of this Circular.

6. Expenditure for organizing rallies, action months, communication campaigns, integrated communication:

a) Supporting those who organize, supervise the implementation of campaigns, mobilize and advise (outside the current travel allowance): VND 40,000 per person per day;

b) Subsidizing those directly participating in the campaign: VND 50,000 per person per day. The head of the unit assigned the communication task shall decide the number of participants within the allocated budget;

c) Subsidizing announcers: VND 100,000 per person per day;

d) Fuel costs or rental fees for vehicles, decoration, reference photos, rental fees for conference halls, backdrops, tables, chairs, sound equipment, and other reasonable expenses. The head of the unit assigned the task shall determine appropriate expenditure items. The level of expenditure shall be based on contracts and legitimate expense vouchers within the approved budget.

7. Expenditure for organizing contests to understand policies, laws, and knowledge related to the Program, including:

a) Expenditure for advertising and disseminating information on mass media to launch and announce contest rules: The head of the unit assigned the task shall decide appropriate expenditure items. The level of expenditure shall be based on contracts and legitimate expense vouchers within the allocated budget;

b) Other expenditures (if any) such as: scriptwriting; renting conference halls and equipment for the contest; hiring hosts; expenditure for compiling test questions, answers, and training judges and organizers; prize money for individuals and groups; subsidies for service personnel and hosts (MCs); office supplies; support for travel expenses, meals, and accommodation for contestants coming from afar: As stipulated in Joint Circular No. 14/2014/TTLT-BTC-BTP dated January 27, 2014 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice on the preparation, management, use, and settlement of state budget funds to ensure legal awareness and access to the law for the people at the grassroots level.

 

Chapter IV

ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

Article 13. Transitional Provisions

1. Activities and tasks implemented before July 31, 2017: The content and expenditure levels shall be governed by the Joint Circulars of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health: No. 113/2013/TTLT-BTC-BYT dated August 15, 2013 on the management and use of funds for the National Target Program on Health for the period 2012-2015; No. 117/2015/TTLT-BTC-BYT dated August 11, 2015 amending and supplementing Joint Circular No. 113/2013/TTLT-BTC-BYT dated August 15, 2013 on the management and use of funds for the National Target Program on Health for the period 2012-2015; No. 67/2013/TTLT-BTC-BYT dated May 21, 2013 on the management and use of funds for the National Target Program on Food Safety for the period 2012-2015; No. 163/2012/TTLT-BTC-BYT dated October 8, 2012 on the management and use of funds for the National Target Program on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control for the period 2012-2015; and No. 20/2013/TTLT-BTC-BYT dated February 20, 2013 on the management and use of funds for the National Target Program on Population and Family Planning for the period 2012-2015.

2. Activities and tasks implemented from July 31, 2017 to May 6, 2018: The content of expenditure shall be governed by Decision No. 1125/QĐ-TTg, and the expenditure levels shall be governed by the Joint Circulars of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health mentioned in Clause 1 of this Article and the current expenditure regulations.

3. Activities and tasks implemented from May 7, 2018 onwards: The content and expenditure levels shall be governed by Decision No. 1125/QĐ-TTg and the provisions of this Circular.

Article 14. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from May 7, 2018.

2. The Circular Jointly Issued No. 113/2013/TTLT-BTC-BYT dated August 15, 2013, the Circular Jointly Issued No. 67/2013/TTLT-BTC-BYT dated May 21, 2013, the Circular Jointly Issued No. 163/2012/TTLT-BTC-BYT dated October 8, 2012, the Circular Jointly Issued No. 20/2013/TTLT-BTC-BYT dated February 20, 2013, and the Circular Jointly Issued No. 117/2015/TTLT-BTC-BYT dated August 11, 2015 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

Article 15. Implementation

1. On the basis of the local budget balance capacity and actual conditions, the People's Council of the province or centrally governed city may consider and decide within its authority a higher support level than that prescribed in this Circular for the implementation of the Program.

2. In cases where the legal normative documents cited in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced by other legal normative documents, the corresponding Articles, Clauses, and Points in the amending, supplementing, or replacing documents shall apply.

3. In cases where special expenses not provided for in the Government’s documents, the Prime Minister’s documents, the Ministry of Finance’s documents, and this Circular arise during the implementation process, the People's Council at the provincial level shall consider and decide in accordance with the locality's budget capacity as stipulated in Clause 3, Article 21 of the Government Decree No. 163/2016/NĐ-CP dated December 21, 2016 detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the State Budget Law.

4. If any difficulties arise during the implementation process, units are requested to report to the Ministry of Finance for research, amendment, supplementation, and timely adjustment as necessary./.