Circular No. 35/2011/TT-BYT guiding the implementation of health care for the elderly

CIRCULAR

GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING HEALTH CARE FOR THE ELDERLY

Pursuant to the Law on the Elderly dated November 23, 2009;

Pursuant to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment dated November 23, 2009;

Pursuant to Decree No. 188/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 27, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

The Ministry of Health issues guidelines for implementing health care for the elderly as follows:

Chapter I.
HEALTH CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AT MEDICAL FACILITIES

Article 1. Contents of health care for the elderly at medical facilities

The contents of health care for the elderly at medical facilities shall be carried out in accordance with Article 12 of the Law on the Elderly and the following contents:

1. Inpatient and outpatient treatment shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment and the Law on Health Insurance.

Combined modern medicine and traditional medicine in medical examination and treatment for the elderly shall be implemented in accordance with Circular No. 50/2010/TT-BYT dated December 31, 2010 of the Minister of Health on guiding the combination of traditional medicine with modern medicine in medical examination and treatment.

2. Preventive measures for the elderly.

3. Training healthcare staff in geriatrics.

4. Research and applying scientific and technological advancements in disease prevention, medical examination and treatment, rehabilitation, and improving the health of the elderly.

5. Line guidance: Directing, supporting, and transferring specialized technical skills from higher-level hospitals to lower-level hospitals.

6. Cooperation and exchange of experiences in disease prevention, medical examination and treatment, rehabilitation, research, and training of staff in geriatric specialties with international organizations, countries around the world, and foreign individuals.

Article 2. Responsibilities for implementing health care for the elderly at medical facilities

Medical facilities have the responsibility to implement the contents of health care for the elderly as prescribed in Article 1 of this Circular, specifically as follows:

1. National Geriatric Hospital:

a) It is the final level for medical examination and treatment, rehabilitation, and improving the health of the elderly.

b) Directing, supporting, and transferring specialized technical skills regarding health care for the elderly to lower levels throughout the country.

c) Conducting basic, clinical, and social geriatric research.

d) Organizing continuous and advanced training in geriatric specialties; coordinating with national educational institutions specializing in healthcare in compiling materials and practical guidance in geriatrics.

đ) Studying and proposing to the Ministry of Health about building and developing a network of health care for the elderly throughout the country.

2. General hospitals, specialized hospitals (excluding pediatric specialized hospitals), and traditional medicine hospitals with a bed capacity of 50 beds or more must allocate beds for inpatient treatment and organize separate consultation rooms for the elderly in the outpatient department. Based on the demand for medical examination and treatment of the elderly, encourage hospitals to establish geriatric departments when they meet the conditions of infrastructure, medical equipment, and human resources.

3. Commune Health Stations (hereinafter referred to as Commune Health Stations):

a) Organizing medical examination and treatment for the elderly in accordance with the expertise and functions of the commune health station.

b) Organizing medical examination and treatment for lonely elderly people in accordance with Clause 2, Article 13 of the Law on the Elderly.

4. Other medical facilities, based on their functions and actual conditions, shall organize medical examination and treatment for the elderly in accordance with the provisions of Article 1 of this Circular.

Chapter II.
HEALTH CARE FOR THE ELDERLY IN COMMUNITIES AND MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES

Article 3. Content of health care for the elderly in the community

1. Promote knowledge dissemination on physical exercise, health enhancement, and disease prevention, particularly common diseases among the elderly, to enable the elderly to self-prevent diseases. Select appropriate forms of promotion based on local conditions, such as literature, books, leaflets, posters, banners, slogans, seminars, talks, and mass media.

2. Guide the elderly in skills for disease prevention, treatment, and self-care.

3. Organize health check-ups to establish health monitoring records for the elderly. Encourage the establishment of family doctor networks and home health care services for the elderly.

4. Regular health check-ups for the elderly shall be conducted at least once a year (once/year).

5. Provide medical examination and treatment for the elderly at commune health stations, ward health stations, town health stations, and their places of residence.

6. Community-based functional rehabilitation for disabled elderly to prevent and recover from sequelae caused by injuries, accidents, cerebrovascular accidents, chronic diseases, occupational diseases, and other illnesses.

Article 4. Responsibilities for implementing health care for the elderly in the community

1. Responsibilities of the People's Committee of Communes, Wards, and Towns

a) Support travel expenses for health workers to visit and treat the elderly at home when the elderly are alone and seriously ill and unable to go to medical facilities for examination and treatment.

b) Support travel costs or means of transportation for seriously ill elderly who live alone and need to go to medical facilities according to the recommendation of the commune, ward, or town health station.

c) The level of support for travel expenses as stipulated in Points a and b of Clause 1 of this Article shall be implemented in accordance with Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTC dated February 18, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Finance, which regulates the management and use of initial health care funds for the elderly residing in their communities; congratulating longevity, celebrating longevity, and commending and rewarding the elderly.

2. Responsibilities of Commune Health Stations

a) Implement health care for the elderly in the community as prescribed in Article 3 of this Circular.

b) Dispatch health workers to examine and treat the elderly at their residences when they are alone and seriously ill and unable to go to medical facilities for examination and treatment.

c) Annually prepare plans and budget estimates for health care for the elderly in the locality, including regular health check-ups as stipulated in Clause 4, Article 3 of this Circular, and submit them to the competent authority for approval in accordance with Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTC dated February 18, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Finance, which regulates the management and use of initial health care funds for the elderly residing in their communities; congratulating longevity, celebrating longevity, and commending and rewarding the elderly.

3. Family members and relatives of the elderly have the responsibility to proactively care for the health of the elderly; cooperate with volunteers and health workers in caring for the health of the elderly.

4. The elderly have the responsibility to protect and care for their own health; cooperate with volunteers and health workers to care for their own health.

5. Encourage retired health workers to participate as volunteers or to train volunteers in necessary knowledge for caring for the health of the elderly.

Article 5. Coordinate with the Association of the Elderly at commune, ward, town level

Request the Association of the Elderly at commune, ward, town level to coordinate with the People's Committee and the health station at the same level in implementing healthcare for the elderly in the community, with specific contents as follows:

a) Advise the People's Committee of the commune, ward, town and coordinate with the commune health station to organize a network of volunteer caregivers to provide healthcare for the elderly at home.

b) Organize various forms of elderly clubs such as: Health maintenance club, outdoor health club. Depending on conditions and requirements of the elderly, the Association of the Elderly at commune, ward, town level shall coordinate with the commune health station to organize clubs for those suffering from common chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, dementia, and other common diseases.

Article 6. Management of Chronic Diseases for the Elderly

1. General hospitals, specialized hospitals, and other hospitals shall establish records to monitor chronic diseases for the elderly in their health monitoring files.

2. The commune health station shall be responsible for establishing health monitoring records, managing health, and managing chronic diseases for the elderly in the locality according to the model prescribed by the Ministry of Health.

Chapter III.
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 7. Responsibilities of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment - Ministry of Health

The Department of Medical Examination and Treatment shall be responsible for coordinating with relevant departments, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health, the Central Geriatric Hospital, and related units to direct, guide, inspect, and audit the implementation of this Circular.

Article 8. Responsibilities of the Provincial Department of Health

1. The Provincial Department of Health shall be responsible for advising the Provincial People's Committee on building a health care plan for the elderly throughout the province in accordance with this Circular and directing local health units to implement health care for the elderly.

2. Annually, prepare the budget for health care for the elderly according to the guidelines set out in Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTC dated February 18, 2011, of the Ministry of Finance on the management and use of funds for primary health care for the elderly; longevity celebration, congratulation, and commendation of the elderly, and submit it to the competent authority for approval.

3. Coordinate with relevant provincial departments and the Association of the Elderly to implement the approved health care plan for the elderly.

Article 9. Responsibilities of the Central Health Education and Communication Center

The Central Health Education and Communication Center shall coordinate with the Central Geriatric Hospital to develop plans and organize the implementation of health education and communication activities for the elderly.

Article 10. Reference Provisions

In cases where referenced documents in this Circular are replaced or amended, the replacement or amended documents shall apply.

Article 11. Effective Date

Article 10. Effective Date of this Circular

This Circular takes effect from December 1, 2011.

Circular No. 02/2004/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health dated January 20, 2004 guiding the implementation of elderly health care work shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.