Decision No. 301/2005/QĐ-TTg On approving the National Action Program for the Elderly in Vietnam for the period 2005-2010

 

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the approval of the National Program on the Elderly in Vietnam for the period 2005-2010

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Ordinance on the Elderly dated April 28, 2000;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Chairman of the National Committee on the Elderly of Vietnam,

DECISION:

Article 1- Approves the National Program on the Elderly in Vietnam for the period 2005-2010, with the following main contents:

1. Objectives of the Program

a) General Objective

To promote the role of the elderly and improve the quality of care for the elderly in accordance with the potential and level of economic and social development of the country; to intensify socialization of activities assisting the elderly.

- To promote the role and experience of the elderly in various aspects of social life; to create conditions for the elderly to effectively participate in activities suitable to their needs and capabilities; to ensure equality in enjoying the fruits of development.

- To enhance the physical and mental health of the elderly; to improve the quality of life of the elderly.

- To build a favorable environment for the daily life of the elderly; to develop the social security network (social insurance and social assistance), particularly focusing on elderly individuals who are alone, disabled, from ethnic minorities; elderly individuals who are poor, women, and those over 90 years old.

2. Main targets by 2010

a) 95% of the elderly will have improved living standards both materially and spiritually.

b) 100% of the elderly when sick will be examined, treated, and receive family and community care; if the elderly belong to the poor category, they will receive free medical examination and treatment.

c) 100% of the elderly who are alone and without income sources will receive monthly social assistance and free medical examination and treatment.

d) 100% of the elderly aged 90 and above, without pension or other social allowances, will receive monthly social assistance and be provided with free health insurance cards.

đ) 100% of the elderly will not have to live in temporary shelters.

e) 80% of communes, wards, and towns nationwide will establish and operate effective Elder Care Funds.

3. Main activities to implement the Program

a) Activities to promote the role of the elderly

At all levels, sectors, families, and communities, encourage and create conditions for the elderly to exercise and maintain their health, engage in lifelong learning, contribute their experiences and knowledge to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, mainly in the following areas:

- To create an environment and conditions for the elderly to fully utilize their talents, intelligence, and fine qualities in participating in cultural and social activities.

- To encourage, motivate, and create conditions for the elderly to participate in economic activities such as restoring traditional trades and teaching them, promoting agriculture, fisheries, forestry, according to specific conditions and capabilities. . . .

- To create a favorable environment for the elderly to participate in lifelong learning and pass on cultural, social, scientific, and technological knowledge, vocational skills to younger generations, serving as exemplary leaders and pillars in the movement to build a learning society; to build filial families and clans.

- To create conditions for the elderly to contribute opinions in policy-making and law enforcement, especially issues related to the elderly, provide professional advice, technical guidance, and research and application of science and technology, particularly in the fields of healthcare, education, scientific research and technology...

b) Intensify propaganda and education activities on caring for and promoting the role of the elderly:

- Mass media organizations should include the issue of the elderly in regular propaganda plans, creating special columns and topics, providing information about the activities of the elderly; about exemplary models of filial piety and respect for the elderly, especially highlighting examples of elderly individuals who are disabled, skilled women, and those who have made significant contributions to child care and education, particularly orphans and people affected by HIV/AIDS.

- Improve the quality of broadcasts on special programs of Vietnam Television and Voice of Vietnam Radio about the elderly.

- Propagate and educate about the tradition of respecting the elderly and helping them.

- Disseminate scientific information to reduce disease risks among the elderly, strengthen safety in drug use, and prevent the misuse of drugs for treating the elderly. abuse of drugs for treating the elderly

c) Proactive activities to prepare for old age:

- To propagate and mobilize citizens to actively participate in social insurance, life insurance, health insurance; to save money from a young age to accumulate funds for illness and old age; to voluntarily contribute to charitable and humanitarian funds, elder care and support funds.

- Family members with elderly relatives need to proactively understand the psychology and legitimate wishes of the elderly; learn methods and skills for caring for the elderly's health and spiritual life.

- The State should create mechanisms to encourage everyone to save, participate in social insurance, and ensure a decent life in old age; to perfect mechanisms, policies, subsidies, nurturing, initial health care, and medical treatment for the elderly when ill; to establish appropriate salary systems for savings, expand health insurance policies (both voluntary and mandatory) to integrate with regional and international standards.

d) Activities to improve material living standards:

- To encourage organizations and individuals to support and care for elderly individuals who are alone and without income sources, while developing and improving the quality of social welfare facilities for the elderly. Encourage and support mutual care and assistance between generations within families, help each other in villages and communities. Develop community-based models to assist lonely and disabled elderly individuals, such as social houses, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, day-care centers, and home-care services.

- Launching movements, mobilizing resources, and organizing the implementation of poverty reduction programs for the elderly, eliminating the situation where elderly individuals living alone must reside in dilapidated houses.

d) Health improvement activities:

- Strengthening advisory, guidance, training, and education activities to enhance self-care knowledge and improve health for the elderly and their families.

- Encouraging the development of material and technical infrastructure for both public and private healthcare service systems, with a focus on:

Promoting the establishment of geriatric departments in district and provincial hospitals.

+ Developing a system of elderly health care centers, encouraging free medical examination and treatment services for the elderly.

+ Building and developing community-based health care and rehabilitation networks for the elderly.

+ - Vigorously implementing approved programs, including:

The program for the prevention, early detection, and timely treatment of mental illnesses and dental diseases among the elderly.

The research program on age-related diseases.

+ The training and capacity-building program for social workers, volunteers, and other personnel involved in counseling and caring for the elderly.

e) Activities to improve cultural and spiritual life:

+ Promoting gender equality for the elderly through increased societal awareness and integrating gender issues into economic and social development programs and national target programs. Encouraging and supporting the elderly to play active roles in family and community life.

+ - Establishing lifestyles and creating culturally appropriate environments for the elderly in public places suitable for all age groups. Encouraging and maintaining family, clan, and community relationships in caring for and promoting the roles of the elderly.

- Organizing cultural and sports activities suitable for the elderly, supporting and facilitating the formation of local cultural and sports clubs for the elderly.

g) Encouraging and supporting the establishment of elderly care funds at the grassroots level in accordance with the law to assist elderly individuals facing difficult economic circumstances, those who are lonely, disabled, or frequently ill.

h) Expanding and improving the quality of activities for the elderly and the Vietnam Elderly Association. Enhancing assistance activities for elderly individuals with challenging circumstances.

i) Organizing scientific research activities on the biology and psychology of the elderly; perfecting mechanisms and policies to care for and promote the roles of the elderly across various fields as stipulated by the Elderly Law.

k) Promoting international cooperation in multilateral, bilateral, and non-governmental sectors, particularly in assisting the completion of basic social security systems related to the elderly.

4. Funding for the Program

Is allocated in the annual state budget according to the state budget classification and raised from organizations and individuals within and outside the country in accordance with current laws.

The National Committee on the Elderly of Vietnam:

Directing relevant ministries, agencies, and provincial people's committees to develop plans and implement the Program; guiding, inspecting, evaluating, and summarizing the implementation of Program objectives assigned to ministries and agencies; reporting to the Prime Minister annually; conducting inspections, monitoring, evaluating, interim reviews, and final summaries in 2007 and 2010 regarding Program implementation.

2. The Ministry of Health is responsible for providing professional guidance to healthcare facilities on geriatric care techniques and health promotion for the elderly in accordance with the contents of the National Action Program. Implementing educational forms to disseminate general knowledge about exercise, self-care, health improvement, disease prevention, and control for the elderly.

3. The Ministry of Education and Training, in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies, organizes the implementation of lifelong learning policies and creates conditions for the elderly to participate in regular educational and training activities, non-state education, non-formal education, and encouragement of learning, contributing to building a learning society based on ability and conditions.

Article 2. Implementation

1. 4. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism leads and directs the Voice of Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television, news agencies, and press to cooperate with relevant agencies in disseminating information and propaganda about activities related to the elderly. Organizing forums, special columns, and topics dedicated to the elderly; guiding the activities of elderly cultural clubs; coordinating with mass organizations to organize cultural and artistic activities for the elderly.

5. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development collaborates with relevant ministries and agencies to direct and create conditions for healthy elderly individuals to participate in income-generating and employment activities in agriculture and rural development. Directing and supporting the activities of occupational organizations such as the Ornamental Plant Association, the Gardening Association, etc., where many elderly individuals participate.

6. The Population, Family and Children Committee leads and collaborates with relevant ministries and agencies to build and implement specific plans for Program activities linked to the construction of warm, equal, progressive, happy, and sustainable families; coordinating with relevant agencies to guide the implementation of the movement "Model Elders and Filial Children."

7. The Sports Committee leads and collaborates with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and publicity agencies to encourage the elderly to participate in physical and sports activities. Guiding the operation and opening training classes for health club staff; guiding and organizing sports competitions for the elderly.

8. The Ethnic Minorities Committee leads and collaborates with relevant ministries, agencies, and mass organizations to direct the care and promotion of the roles of the elderly in mountainous areas and ethnic minority regions.

5. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to direct and create conditions for elderly people who still have sufficient health to participate in income-generating and employment activities in the agricultural and rural development sector. Direct and support the activities of occupational organizations such as the Association of Ornamental Animals, the Gardening Association... where there is a large number of elderly people participating in activities.

6. The Population, Family and Youth Committee shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to develop and implement specific plans for the activities of the Program in conjunction with building warm, equal, progressive, happy, and sustainable families; coordinate with related agencies to direct the implementation of the campaign "Model Elders and Parents, Filial Sons and Daughters."

7. The Sports Committee shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and propaganda agencies to mobilize, guide elderly people to participate in physical exercise and sports activities. Guide activities and organize training courses to enhance the capacity of sports officials for elderly health clubs; guide and organize sports meetings for the elderly.

8. The Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and mass organizations to direct the care and promotion of the role of the elderly in mountainous areas and ethnic minority regions.

9. The Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance shall allocate funds from the central budget to support activities related to caring for and promoting the role of the elderly as stipulated in this Decision and the activities of the National Committee on Elderly Affairs; guide the establishment, management, and utilization of the Elderly Care Fund.

10. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to guide localities in establishing and ' operating the Working Group on Elderly Affairs at provincial and centrally-administered city levels. Coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to guide the establishment of the Elderly Care Fund.

11. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to develop proposals for competent authorities to issue policies on assistance and promotion of the role of the elderly.

Develop plans to implement social allowances and health insurance targets for the elderly.

12. People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities

Based on this Action Program, develop and implement goals for caring for and promoting the role of the elderly in the socio-economic development plan of the locality annually and over five years. Integrate activities of the Program with national target programs and other socio-economic development programs and plans that are relevant in the locality; allocate funds to support the activities of the Elderly Association at the local level according to the current state budget classification; report annually on the implementation results to the Chairman of the National Committee on Elderly Affairs and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

13. Request the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and its member organizations, the Vietnam Elderly Association to develop plans to direct local association organizations to mobilize the strength of the entire people to participate in elderly care and role promotion work, linked with building cultural villages", particularly issues of gender equality, paying attention to lonely, disabled elderly, elderly in remote, ethnic minority areas, and implementing targets such as eliminating temporary housing, "warm winter clothing" for the elderly, etc.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 4. The Chairman of the National Committee on Elderly Affairs, Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairmen of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees are responsible for implementing this Decision../.