Circular No. 34/2023/TT-BYT guides the functions, tasks, and authorities of the Population Agency under the Department of Health.

CIRCULAR

Guidelines on the functions, tasks, and authorities of

the Population Control Agency under the Department of Health

          Pursuant to Decree No. 95/2022/NĐ-CP dated November 15, 2022 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, authorities, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

          Pursuant to Decree No. 123/2016/NĐ-CP dated September 1, 2016 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, authorities, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies, and Decree No. 101/2020/NĐ-CP dated August 28, 2020 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 123/2016/NĐ-CP dated September 1, 2016 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

          Pursuant to Decree No. 24/2014/NĐ-CP dated April 4, 2014 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under provincial People's Committees and Decree No. 107/2020/NĐ-CP dated September 14, 2020 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 24/2014/NĐ-CP dated April 4, 2014 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under provincial People's Committees;

          At the proposal of the Director of the Population Control Bureau;

          The Minister of Health issues this Circular guiding the functions, tasks, and authorities of the Population Control Agency under the Department of Health.

          Article 1. Position and Functions

          Article 1. The Population Control Agency of provinces and centrally governed cities (hereinafter referred to as the Provincial Population Control Agency) is an organization under the Department of Health, performing the function of advising the Department of Health in managing state affairs related to population work, including areas such as population size, population structure, population quality, family planning, and community-based elderly health care; directing and organizing the implementation of professional activities related to population within the province.

          Article 2. The Provincial Population Control Agency is subject to the direction and management of the organizational structure, staffing, and operations of the Department of Health; at the same time, it is subject to the direction, guidance, and inspection of professional activities by the Population Control Bureau under the Ministry of Health.

          Article 3. The Provincial Population Control Agency has legal personality, has its own office, seal, and separate bank account.

          Article 2. Tasks and Authorities

          1. Advising the Department of Health to submit competent authorities for promulgation and implementation of normative legal documents, plans, programs, projects, coordination mechanisms, measures to organize the implementation of professional tasks and socialization of population work within the province.

          2. Submitting to the Department of Health for issuance of programs, plans, projects, coordination mechanisms in the field of population within the province.

          3. Taking the lead and coordinating with relevant agencies and organizations to implement normative legal documents, policies, strategies, plans, programs, projects about population that have been approved.

          4. Propagating and disseminating policies and laws on population work within the province.

          5. Advising competent authorities to incorporate population content into local socio-economic development plans; sectoral plans within the province.

          6. Issuing or submitting to competent authorities for issuance of professional guidance documents, inspections, and implementation.

          7. Regarding population size:

          a) Monitoring population changes, proposing solutions and models to adjust birth rates and population growth rates within the province to competent authorities;

          b) Building population forecasts to serve economic and social development plans of the province.

          8. Regarding population structure:

          a) Establishing targets, indicators, and intervention measures regarding gender and age structure within the province;

          b) Guiding and inspecting the implementation of legal provisions to ensure gender balance at birth according to natural reproductive laws within the province.

          9. Regarding population quality:

          a) Establishing targets, indicators, and intervention measures regarding population quality to meet the human resource needs of the province;

          b) Guiding and implementing projects to improve population quality, pre-marriage health counseling, reducing child marriage, consanguineous marriages, prenatal and newborn screening and diagnosis within the province.

          10. Regarding family planning:

          a) Establishing targets, indicators, and measures for family planning and contraception; guiding community-based methods to prevent infertility within the province;

          b) Forecasting demand for contraceptives; managing and coordinating the distribution of contraceptives through free channels, social marketing, and socialized programs.

          11. Regarding community-based elderly health care:

          a) Establishing, guiding, and implementing targets and indicators for community-based elderly health care and nutrition;

          b) Guiding the implementation of health promotion, disease prevention, self-care, and nutrition for the elderly in communities; coordinating regular health check-ups, record keeping, and rehabilitation services for the elderly in communities.

          12. Taking the lead and coordinating with relevant agencies and organizations to guide professional activities, conduct communication, mobilization, education, and provide counseling services on population, family planning, and community-based elderly health care within the province.

          13. Organizing scientific research activities, applying scientific and technological advancements, and administrative reforms within the scope of assigned authority.

          14. Coordinating the establishment of information systems for population data management, digital transformation in population work; organizing statistical, information, and reporting activities on population as prescribed.

          15. Guide, inspect, and supervise the activities of agencies and organizations providing counseling services on population within their management scope in the province: premarital health examination counseling, prenatal and neonatal screening counseling, family planning counseling, community-based elderly healthcare counseling.

          16. Organize training and professional development for civil servants, employees, volunteers, and personnel involved in population work in the province in accordance with regulations.

          17. Manage organizational structure and staffing; financial resources and assets assigned; manage affiliated public institutions under the Bureau (if any); implement salary systems and incentive policies, rewards, and disciplinary measures according to laws and the management delegation of the Department of Health.

          18. Resolve disputes, handle complaints and accusations; prevent and combat corruption and negative practices; practice thrift and oppose waste in population work in the province according to laws and the division of labor or delegation of authority from the Department of Health.

          19. Provide advisory support to the Provincial Steering Committee for Population Work.

          20. Perform other tasks as prescribed by law.

          Article 3. Effectiveness

          1. This Circular takes effect from February 19, 2024.

          2. Part 1 of Circular No. 05/2008/TT-BYT dated May 14, 2008, issued by the Ministry of Health guiding the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of population-family planning agencies at local levels shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

          Article 4. Responsibilities for Implementation and Organization

          1. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for directing the Departments of Health to implement this Circular in their respective localities.

          2. The Departments of Health of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for:

          a) Serving as the focal point for organizing the implementation of this Circular in their respective localities;

          b) Submitting to the provincial People's Committees for issuance of Decisions defining the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structures of the Provincial Population Bureaus in accordance with this Circular, suitable to the actual needs and conditions of the locality.

          3. The Population Agency and other competent agencies under the Ministry of Health are responsible for guiding and inspecting the implementation of this Circular. During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties or need for supplementation or amendment, the Director of the Department of Health shall report to the Ministry of Health (through the Population Agency) for research and resolution in accordance with regulations.

          During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties or need for supplementation or amendment, the Director of the Department of Health shall report to the Ministry of Health (through the Population Agency) for research and resolution in accordance with regulations./.