JOINT CIRCULAR No. 26-TT/LB REGULATING INCENTIVE MEASURES FOR SELF-ADMINISTERED HEALTH WORKERS DURING STUDY PERIODS

JOINT CIRCULAR

Regulations on benefits for self-established health workers when studying

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Respectfully submitted to: Administrative Committees of regions, provinces, and centrally governed cities

Implementing Directive No. 104-TTg/VG dated August 23, 1965 of the Prime Minister regarding the strengthening of health work under new circumstances, the health sector needs to actively train personnel to strengthen the health network at the commune level, ensuring that within the coming years, every commune will have a doctor, with 100% of communes having a medical assistant and a medical worker for some cooperatives.

To encourage and motivate commune health workers to study while their current living conditions are still difficult, to ensure they can focus on their studies and serve the commune after graduation, following the proposal from localities, after exchanging and reaching agreement with the Ministry of Higher Education and Vocational Training (as per Circular No. 706-QL/TN dated May 25, 1966 of the Ministry of Higher Education and Vocational Training) and with the consent of the Prime Minister's Office, the Health-Ministry of Finance Joint Circular stipulates the benefits for self-established health workers when studying as follows.

I. SUBJECTS AND CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING LIVING ALLOWANCE AND SCHOLARSHIP

Commune health workers who attend courses for commune doctors and commune medical assistants must meet the following conditions to be eligible for the living allowance and scholarship specified in Part II of this circular:

- They must meet the moral standards, work spirit, professional tenure, and educational qualifications as prescribed in the annual admission circulars of the Ministry of Health and must be selected and sent to study by the Administrative Committee of the district or higher administrative body;

- They must voluntarily commit to returning to the commune to work after graduation.

II. REGIME OF LIVING ALLOWANCE AND SCHOLARSHIP

1. For the commune doctor course:

a) Commune health workers studying in the commune doctor course, if they have continuously worked for three years or more in lowland areas, or two years or more in mountainous areas, shall receive a unified monthly living allowance of 28 dong, or 30 dong in places where regional allowances are 10% or more.

b) Other commune health workers who do not meet the continuous working period mentioned above shall receive a monthly scholarship of 22 dong.

c) The continuous working period is calculated from the date of graduation from the primary course to the date of enrollment (excluding the time spent studying for a medical assistant).

2. For the commune medical assistant course:

a) Commune health workers selected to study shall receive a monthly scholarship of 22 dong.

b) Other commune residents, cooperative members, children of cooperative members, and children of commune officials selected to study shall receive a monthly scholarship of 20 dong.

III. OTHER REGIMES

1. Childcare subsidy regime: Female commune health workers studying who have children under three years old should have the commune Administrative Committee and cooperatives take positive measures to assist them in childcare either at home or in the locality. If there are difficulties that cannot be resolved, and they need to bring their children to school, the school principal and the school union may arrange for childcare in the school nursery or a privately established nursery near the school. The cost of childcare is covered by the school training budget.

2. Commune health workers selected to study shall receive travel and food expenses during the annual opening ceremony and upon graduation to return to the commune to work. Female health workers studying shall also receive hygiene fees like regular students and trainees.

3. Commune health workers studying, if they belong to ethnic minorities in sparsely populated mountainous areas or highland mountainous areas, shall annually receive travel expenses for summer and Tet holidays.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

For commune medical assistants studying the commune doctor course, during the concentrated training period, the local Administrative Committee shall suspend their allowance at the commune and is responsible for appointing other personnel to replace them to ensure continuous and regular health services at the commune. Those appointed to replace them shall receive allowances according to their capabilities, decided by the local Administrative Committee. After each concentrated training period, when commune medical assistants return to the commune, the local Administrative Committee shall arrange for them to resume their previous positions and receive their previous allowances. Upon graduating as a doctor, they shall receive allowances according to the new regime and as stipulated in another document.

For commune medical assistants receiving a unified living allowance that is significantly lower than their allowance when working at the commune, if their families face difficulties, the local Administrative Committee may consider providing supplementary assistance to cover the difference.

The local Administrative Committee and cooperatives need to consider the specific circumstances of each individual to provide support in adjusting rations and work points in cooperatives. If the family truly faces difficulties, they may request higher-level Administrative Committees for assistance to ensure the individuals can focus on their studies until graduation.

The costs for training personnel, if allocated to local authorities, shall be covered by the budget of the Administrative Committees of regions, provinces, and centrally governed cities. If the costs are for institutions directly under the Ministry of Health, they shall be covered by the institutions themselves.

This circular applies to all students enrolled in the commune medical assistant courses from the academic year 1965-1966 and earlier, and takes effect from the date of issuance. During implementation, any difficulties encountered should be reported to the joint ministries for research and resolution.