Joint Circular No. 48/2014/TTLT-BYT-BTNMT guiding the coordination to implement state management on environmental protection for healthcare facilities

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for coordinating the implementation of state management

on environmental protection for healthcare facilities

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Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Law on June 23, 2014;

This Circular prescribes procedures for receiving, providing health care for domestic violence victims and statistical reports on domestic violence victims at medical facilities.

Pursuant to Decree No. 21/2013/NĐ-CP dated March 4, 2013, promulgated by the Government, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

The Minister of Health and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment issue Circular guiding coordination in implementing state management on environmental protection for healthcare facilities.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular guides coordination in implementing state management on environmental protection for healthcare facilities.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to:

1. Relevant agencies and units under the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Departments of Health and Natural Resources and Environment at provincial and centrally governed city levels.

2. Healthcare examination and treatment facilities; medical and pharmaceutical research facilities; preventive healthcare facilities; medical and pharmaceutical training facilities; pharmaceutical production, testing, and certification facilities (hereinafter referred to as healthcare facilities).

Article 3. Principles of Cooperation

1. Ensuring proactivity, timeliness, and effectiveness in implementing state management tasks on environmental protection for healthcare facilities.

2. Implementing coordination at the same level based on mutual agreement, avoiding overlap, and ensuring compliance with the functions, duties, and authorities of each party.

Article 4. Drafting and issuing regulatory legal documents on environmental protection for healthcare facilities

1. Content:

a) Reviewing regulatory legal documents and policies on environmental protection for healthcare facilities;

b) Drafting and issuing regulatory legal documents and technical guidelines on environmental protection for healthcare facilities within their authority or submitting them to competent authorities for issuance.

2. Responsibilities:

a) The Ministry of Health shall take the lead in organizing the implementation of the contents stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article;

b) The Minister of Health shall take the lead and coordinate with the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment to organize the implementation of the contents stipulated in Point b, Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 5. Plan for using public funds for environmental protection activities for healthcare facilities

1. Content:

a) Drafting the Plan for using public funds for environmental protection activities for healthcare facilities;

b) Consolidating the Plan for using public funds for environmental protection activities for healthcare facilities and submitting it to competent authorities for approval;

c) Organizing inspections of the use of allocated public funds;

d) Reporting on the implementation of allocated public funds according to regulations.

2. Responsibilities:

a) Ministry of Health:

- Taking the lead in drafting the Plan for using public funds for environmental protection activities for healthcare facilities under the Ministry of Health's management and sending it to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Regularly reporting on the use of allocated public funds according to regulations.

b) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:

- Taking the lead in consolidating the Plan for using public funds for environmental protection activities for healthcare facilities under the Ministry of Health's management;

- Notifying the allocation of public funds for environmental protection activities for healthcare facilities to the Ministry of Health;

- Organizing inspections of the Ministry of Health's use of public funds.

c) Department of Health:

- Taking the lead in drafting the Plan for using public funds for environmental protection activities for healthcare facilities under its management and sending it to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Regularly reporting on the use of allocated public funds according to regulations.

d) Department of Natural Resources and Environment:

- Taking the lead in consolidating the Plan for using public funds for environmental protection activities for healthcare facilities under the Department of Health's management;

- Notifying the allocation of public funds for environmental protection activities for healthcare facilities to the Department of Health;

- Organizing inspections of the Department of Health's use of public funds.

Article 6. Inspection of the implementation of laws on environmental protection for healthcare facilities

1. Content:

a) Develop an inspection plan for the implementation of laws on environmental protection for healthcare facilities;

b) Carry out inspections according to the approved plan.

2. Responsibilities:

a) Ministry of Health:

- Develop an inspection plan for the implementation of laws on environmental protection for healthcare facilities under the management authority of the Ministry of Health and seek the opinion of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to organize the implementation of the inspection plan after it has been approved;

- Provide comments on the inspection plan for the implementation of laws on environmental protection for healthcare facilities led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Dispatch staff to participate in inspection teams led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

b) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:

- Develop an inspection plan for the implementation of laws on environmental protection for healthcare facilities led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and seek the opinion of the Ministry of Health;

- Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Health to organize the implementation of the inspection plan after it has been approved;

- Provide comments on the inspection plan for the implementation of laws on environmental protection for healthcare facilities led by the Ministry of Health;

- Dispatch staff to participate in inspection teams led by the Ministry of Health.

c) Department of Health:

- Develop an inspection plan for the implementation of laws on environmental protection for healthcare facilities under the management authority of the Provincial Department of Health and seek the opinion of the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Take the lead and coordinate with the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment to organize the implementation of the inspection plan after it has been approved;

- Provide comments on the inspection plan for the implementation of laws on environmental protection for healthcare facilities led by the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Dispatch staff to participate in inspection teams led by the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

d) Department of Natural Resources and Environment:

- Develop an inspection plan for the implementation of laws on environmental protection for healthcare facilities led by the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment and seek the opinion of the Provincial Department of Health;

- Take the lead and coordinate with the Provincial Department of Health to organize the implementation of the inspection plan after it has been approved;

- Provide comments on the inspection plan for the implementation of laws on environmental protection for healthcare facilities under the management authority of the Provincial Department of Health;

- Dispatch staff to participate in inspection teams led by the Provincial Department of Health.

d) The inspection plans for healthcare facilities of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment must be notified to local health management agencies and environmental management agencies to coordinate participation in implementation.

Article 7. Handling of healthcare facilities causing serious environmental pollution

1. Content:

a) Develop management measures to limit the emergence of new healthcare facilities causing serious environmental pollution;

b) Review and identify healthcare facilities causing serious environmental pollution;

c) Inspect the progress of implementing pollution remediation measures for healthcare facilities causing serious environmental pollution according to the approved schedule;

d) Guide healthcare facilities that have completed thorough pollution treatment to complete the procedures for confirming the completion of pollution treatment and removal from the list of facilities causing serious environmental pollution.

2. Responsibilities:

a) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Health to guide provincial People's Committees in implementing the contents stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article;

b) The Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Provincial Department of Health to implement the contents stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 8. Popularizing and educating on environmental protection laws for healthcare facilities

1. Content:

a) Develop content for popularizing and educating on environmental protection laws for healthcare facilities;

b) Implement popularizing and educating on environmental protection laws for healthcare facilities.

2. Responsibilities:

a) The Ministry of Health shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to implement the contents stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article;

b) The Department of Health shall take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to implement popularizing and educating on environmental protection laws for healthcare facilities.

Article 9. Information exchange and training and capacity building

1. Content:

a) Exchange information on the results of inspections and supervision regarding the implementation of laws on environmental protection for healthcare facilities; information on appropriate medical waste treatment technologies recommended for application in Vietnam and worldwide;

b) Develop materials and organize training and capacity building on environmental protection for healthcare facilities.

2. Responsibilities:

a) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Health to implement the contents stipulated in Point a, Clause 1 of this Article; notify the Ministry of Health of the annual training and capacity building plan on environmental protection so that the Ministry of Health can send representatives to attend;

b) The Ministry of Health shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to implement the contents stipulated in Point b, Clause 1 of this Article;

c) The Department of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Health to implement the contents stipulated in Point a, Clause 1 of this Article; notify the Department of Health of the annual training and capacity building plan on environmental protection so that the Department of Health can send representatives to attend;

d) The Department of Health shall organize training and capacity building on environmental protection for healthcare facilities within the province.

Article 10. International cooperation on environmental protection for healthcare facilities

1. Reason for renewal:

a) Develop and propose international cooperation projects on environmental protection related to the healthcare sector;

b) Implement international cooperation projects on environmental protection related to the healthcare sector;

c) Exchange experiences and conduct international study tours on areas related to environmental protection for healthcare facilities.

2. Responsibilities:

a) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Health to develop proposals for international cooperation projects on environmental protection related to the healthcare sector; annually submit to the Ministry of Health a list of proposed project applications seeking international funding for environmental protection so that both sides can integrate environmental protection content related to the healthcare sector;

b) The Ministry of Health shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to implement international cooperation projects on environmental protection related to the healthcare sector.

Article 11. Implementation Organization

1. Ministry of Health:

a) Assign the Medical Environment Management Agency to be the focal point for organizing the implementation of cooperative contents in this Circular;

b) Annually organize a conference to review and evaluate the results of implementing the contents in this Circular;

c) Regularly report annually to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on environmental protection work in healthcare activities and the results of implementing the contents in this Circular.

2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:

a) Assign the Environmental General Department to be the focal point for organizing the implementation of the contents in this Circular;

b) Coordinate with the Ministry of Health to organize conferences to review and report on the results of implementing the contents in this Circular.

3. Departments of Health and Natural Resources and Environment shall implement the contents in this Circular. Annually, the Department of Health shall take the lead and coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to evaluate the results of implementing the contents in this Circular and environmental protection work in healthcare activities at the local level, and report to the Ministry of Health.

Article 12. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from March 10, 2015.

During the implementation process, if there are difficulties or obstacles, units should promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Health (Medical Environment Management Agency) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Environmental General Department) for research and resolution./.