Circular No. 33/2021/TT-BYT stipulates the school health work in higher education institutions and vocational education institutions.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on school health work in higher education institutions and vocational education institutions

Pursuant to the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases dated November 21, 2007;

Pursuant to the Higher Education Law dated June 18, 2012 and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Higher Education Law dated November 19, 2018;

Pursuant to the Law on Vocational Education dated November 27, 2014;

Pursuant to the Youth Law dated June 16, 2020;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 75/2017/NĐ-CP dated June 20, 2017 stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

Pursuant to Directive No. 23/2006/CT-TTg dated July 12, 2006 of the Government Chairman on strengthening school health work;

At the proposal of the Director of the Health Environment Management Department,

The Minister of Health issues this Circular regulating school health work in higher education institutions and vocational education institutions,

Chapter 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular regulates school health work in higher education institutions and vocational education institutions (hereinafter referred to as educational institutions), including: Care for students' health, communication and health education, ensuring school hygiene, food safety, requirements for facilities, equipment, and school health personnel.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to educational institutions and agencies, organizations, and individuals related to school health work within the territory of Vietnam.

Chapter 2

SCHOOL HEALTH WORK

Article 3. Student Health Care

1. Implement first aid and emergency care for students according to regulations and professional technical guidance on medical examination and treatment when emergencies occur during study, living, and practice at educational institutions.

2. Organize health check-ups for students upon enrollment and at least once a year during each academic year. Monitor and examine students' health, identify health risk factors and diseases to prevent, treat, or refer for treatment according to the law.

3. Implement hygiene measures to prevent and control epidemics in educational institutions.

4. Advise students on issues related to diseases, health risk factors, improving health, proper nutrition, physical and mental development, and physical activities.

5. Guide measures to ensure safe and hygienic working conditions, prevent accidents and injuries during study and practice.

Article 4. Health Communication and Education

1. Content of health communication and education includes: Measures to prevent and control accidents and injuries; enhancing physical activity, proper nutrition, healthy lifestyles; school-related illnesses and disabilities; preventing and controlling infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases; non-communicable diseases; preventing the harmful effects of tobacco, alcohol, beer, drugs, addictive substances, and other health-related topics.

2. Forms of health communication and education

a) Through media such as: loudspeakers, posters, banners, propaganda pictures, film screenings;

b) Group-based communication for students based on appropriate classification according to different types and scales of training;

c) Individual communication with students;

d) Communication in events: organizing health education contests; cultural and sports activities, and integrating health school content into other events of educational institutions;

e) Integration into lectures and extracurricular programs of educational institutions;

f) Distributing communication products and materials to students;

g) Organizing other forms of health communication and education in accordance with the law.

3. Promote the dissemination and education of laws on school health in educational institutions in accordance with Articles 23 and 24 of the Law on Popularizing Legal Education.

Article 5. Ensuring School Sanitation

1. Educational institutions must meet general sanitation requirements, functional areas, and classrooms for learning and teaching according to design standards: TCVN 3981:1985 - University; TCVN 4602:2012 - Vocational College; TCVN 9210:2012 - Vocational Training School.

2. The lighting level in classrooms and other functional rooms within educational institutions must comply with the minimum maintained illuminance requirements specified in point 4.2 of Table 1, Part II of National Technical Regulation No. QCVN 22:2016/BYT issued together with Circular No. 22/2016/TT-BYT dated June 30, 2016, by the Minister of Health, which stipulates national technical regulations on lighting - permissible lighting levels at workplaces.

3. Laboratories, experimental areas, workshops must comply with noise regulations set forth in National Technical Regulation No. QCVN 24:2016/BYT issued together with Circular No. 24/2016/TT-BYT dated June 30, 2016, by the Minister of Health, which stipulates national technical regulations on noise - permissible noise exposure levels at workplaces; they must also comply with microclimate regulations set forth in National Technical Regulation No. QCVN 26:2016/BYT issued together with Circular No. 26/2016/TT-BYT dated June 30, 2016, by the Minister of Health, which stipulates national technical regulations on microclimate - permissible microclimate values at workplaces, and ensure compliance with permissible levels of other harmful factors as prescribed.

4. Laboratories, experimental areas, workshops serving the teaching and learning of heavy, hazardous, and dangerous trades, and particularly heavy, hazardous, and dangerous trades must implement safety and hygiene measures for learners in accordance with Article 70 of the Labor Safety and Hygiene Law dated June 25, 2015.

5. Drinking water must meet quality standards as set forth in National Technical Regulation No. QCVN 6-1:2010/BYT issued together with Circular No. 34/2010/TT-BYT dated June 2, 2010, by the Minister of Health, which establishes national technical regulations for natural mineral water and bottled drinking water.

6. Domestic water supplied from clean water providers or self-extracted must meet standards as set forth in National Technical Regulation No. QCVN 01-1:2018/BYT issued together with Circular No. 41/2018/TT-BYT dated December 14, 2018, by the Minister of Health, which establishes national technical regulations and provisions for monitoring and supervising the quality of clean water for domestic use, and Circular No. 26/2021/TT-BYT dated December 15, 2021, by the Minister of Health, amending, supplementing, and abolishing certain articles of Circular No. 41/2018/TT-BYT of the Minister of Health regarding national technical regulations and provisions for monitoring and supervising the quality of water for domestic use.

7. Toilets must comply with sanitation standards as set forth in National Technical Regulation No. QCVN 01:2011/BYT issued together with Circular No. 27/2011/TT-BYT dated June 24, 2011, by the Minister of Health, which establishes national technical regulations on toilets - conditions ensuring sanitation; hand washing facilities with clean water, soap, or quick-drying hand sanitizer must be provided.

8. Waste bins must be arranged, and waste sorting, collection, and disposal must be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Clause 4, Section VII, Part II of National Technical Regulation No. QCVN 07:2010/BYT issued together with Circular No. 46/2010/TT-BYT dated December 29, 2010, by the Minister of Health, which establishes national technical regulations on disease prevention in educational institutions under the national education system, or contracts with entities capable of collecting and disposing of domestic waste, and complies with other relevant provisions in Decree No. 38/2015/NĐ-CP dated April 24, 2015, by the Government on waste management and waste disposal.

9. Dormitories and residential areas for students must meet general sanitation conditions, water supply and drainage, sanitary toilets, waste collection and disposal, and epidemic prevention as stipulated in Clauses 6, 7, and 8 of this Article.

Article 6. Food Safety Assurance

1. Educational institutions with resident and semi-resident dining facilities

a) Dining rooms, kitchens, and cafeterias serving meals within educational institutions must comply with the provisions set forth in Clause 2, Article 2 of Decree No. 155/2018/ND-CP dated November 12, 2018, amending and supplementing certain regulations related to investment and business conditions under the management of the Ministry of Health.

b) Personnel working in dining rooms and kitchens must meet health requirements as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 2 of Decree No. 155/2018/ND-CP dated November 12, 2018, amending and supplementing certain regulations related to investment and business conditions under the management of the Ministry of Health.

2. Educational institutions without resident and semi-resident dining facilities

a) The institution may enter into contracts with establishments providing pre-prepared meals that have been issued a Certificate of Food Safety Conditions in accordance with the law;

b) The institution may enter into contracts with catering establishments that have been issued a Certificate of Food Safety Conditions in accordance with the law to organize dining rooms and kitchens at the educational institution.

Article 7. Requirements for Physical Facilities, Equipment, and School Health Personnel

1. Educational institutions shall allocate a separate room in a convenient location for first aid, emergency care, and student health care; the room shall be equipped with a minimum of a medical examination bed, medical equipment storage cabinet, medicine storage cabinet, and essential medicines for first aid as prescribed by law.

2. Educational institutions shall allocate school health personnel with a minimum level of medical training from a junior college or higher, who have been trained and updated on first aid, emergency care, and medical knowledge. In cases where school health personnel directly perform medical examinations and treatments, they must hold a practice certificate as required by law on medical examinations and treatments.

3. In cases where educational institutions cannot allocate school health personnel as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article, they shall enter into contracts with medical examination and treatment establishments or individuals meeting the standards specified in this Circular to carry out school health work.

Chapter 3

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 8. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Ministry of Health assigns responsibilities to the Department of Environmental Health Management:

a) Directing, disseminating, guiding, inspecting, and auditing the implementation of school health work as prescribed in this Circular;

b) Issuing professional guidance materials on school health work;

c) Organizing training on school health work;

d) Assisting the Minister of Health in coordinating with central education management agencies and organizations responsible for state management of school health work nationwide.

2. Responsibilities of Provincial People's Committees and Municipal People's Committees under Central Government

a) Directing the organization and implementation of school health work as prescribed in this Circular within their jurisdiction;

b) Directing the Finance Department to coordinate with the Health Department, Education and Training Department, and Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Department in preparing budgets, making payments, and finalizing accounts for school health work expenses in accordance with the law;

c) Directing inspections and audits of the implementation of school health work in educational institutions under their authority.

3. Responsibilities of the Health Department

a) Organizing, directing, disseminating, guiding, inspecting, and auditing the implementation of school health work as prescribed in this Circular within their jurisdiction;

b) Organizing professional training for school health personnel;

c) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Education and Training Department and Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Department in preparing budgets, making payments, and finalizing accounts for school health work expenses in accordance with the law;

d) Implementing reports on school health work within their jurisdiction to the Ministry of Health (Department of Environmental Health Management) before December 20 of the reporting year according to the model specified in Appendix No. 01 attached to this Circular.

4. Responsibilities of the Education and Training Department and the Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Department

a) Organizing, directing, disseminating, and guiding the implementation of school health work as prescribed in this Circular within their jurisdiction;

b) Preparing budgets and allocating funds to ensure the implementation of school health work and submitting them to the Finance Department for approval;

c) Coordinating with the Health Department to organize professional training for school health personnel.

5. Responsibilities of Educational Institutions

a) Implementing school health work as prescribed in this Circular;

b) Developing annual plans for school health work and fully implementing all aspects of school health work;

c) Allocating school health personnel, physical facilities, equipment, and conditions for the implementation of school health work;

d) Allocating funds, making payments, and finalizing accounts for school health work in accordance with the law;

đ) Incorporating health education and promotion content into class hours and extracurricular programs of the educational institution;

e) Sending school health personnel to participate in professional training on school health work;

g) Cooperating with relevant agencies and organizations in carrying out health activities and disease prevention at educational institutions;

h) Submitting reports on school health work to the Health Department before December 16 of the reporting year according to the model specified in Appendix No. 02 attached to this Circular and submitting ad hoc reports as required by competent authorities.

6. Responsibilities of School Health Personnel

a) Implementing professional contents of school health work as prescribed in this Circular;

b) Advising educational institutions on the development of annual plans for school health work;

c) Participating in professional training on school health work;

d) Using and maintaining facilities and equipment for school health work;

đ) Summarizing and reporting on the results of school health work implementation.

Article 9. Cross-References

In the event that referenced documents in this Circular are replaced, amended, or supplemented, they shall be implemented in accordance with the new document.

Article 10. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2022.

2. The Joint Circular No. 03/2000/TTLT-BYT-BGDĐT dated March 1, 2000, of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training guiding the implementation of school health work shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

Article 11. Responsibility for Implementation

The Director of the Health Environment Management Department, the Head of the Ministry's Office, the Inspector General of the Ministry, the Heads of Departments, Directors of Bureaus, and Directors of General Departments under the Ministry of Health, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

During the process of implementing this Circular, any difficulties or issues should be reported to the Ministry of Health (Health Environment Management Department) for consideration and resolution./.