Decree No. 64/2009/NĐ-CP On policies for health workers serving in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions

DECREE

Regarding policies for health workers serving in areas with special economic and social conditions

difficulties

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THE GOVERNMENT

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

Pursuant to Resolution No. 18/2008/NQ-QH12 dated June 3, 2008 of the National Assembly on accelerating the implementation of policies and laws on socialization to improve the quality of healthcare for the people;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Health,

DECREE:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decree stipulates the preferential allowances, attraction allowances, subsidies, and other benefits for health workers, contractual employees, and military medical personnel directly engaged in specialized medical work at state-owned healthcare facilities in areas with special economic and social difficulties.

Article 2. Applicability

1. Health workers, contractual employees directly engaged in specialized medical work (hereinafter referred to collectively as health workers) in state-owned healthcare facilities include: commune health stations, ward health stations, town health stations; health stations for agencies and schools; regional multi-disciplinary clinics; midwifery houses; health centers; hospitals; and other healthcare facilities at the commune level and above.

2. Military medical personnel (hereinafter referred to collectively as military medical personnel) currently working at combined military-civilian health stations in areas with special economic and social difficulties.

3. Areas with special economic and social difficulties shall be implemented according to current laws, including: particularly difficult communes, border communes, safe area communes under the investment program for developing socio-economic conditions in particularly difficult communes of ethnic minorities and mountainous regions (Program 135 Phase II), and particularly difficult communes in coastal and island areas as specified in current decisions.

Article 5. Principles of application and calculation of allowances

1. Health workers who enjoy preferential allowances as prescribed in this Decree shall not enjoy preferential allowances as prescribed in Decision No. 276/2005/QĐ-TTg dated November 1, 2005.

2. The types of preferential allowances and attraction allowances prescribed in Articles 5 and 6 of this Decree are allowance systems calculated as a percentage (hereinafter referred to as percentage rate) of the current salary grade plus leadership position allowance and seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling (if applicable) of the recipient.

Article 4. Source of funding

1. The source of funds for implementing the allowance and subsidy system prescribed in this Decree shall be from the state budget, allocated annually in the state budget estimate according to the State Budget Law.

2. Revenue from healthcare facilities operating under financial regulations applicable to public service units.

3. Other lawful sources of funding.

Chapter II

POLICIES FOR HEALTH WORKERS SERVING IN AREAS WITH SPECIAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES

Article 5. Preferential Allowance

Health workers and military medical personnel currently working at healthcare facilities in areas with special economic and social difficulties shall enjoy a preferential allowance of 70% of their current salary grade plus leadership position allowance and seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling (if applicable).

Article 6. Attraction Allowance

1. Health workers and military medical personnel currently working or transferred to work at healthcare facilities in areas with special economic and social difficulties shall enjoy an attraction allowance of 70% of their current salary grade plus leadership position allowance and seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling (if applicable).

2. Implementation of health workers and military medical personnel enjoying attraction allowances shall not exceed five years. The time when the subjects enjoy the attraction allowance system shall be determined as follows:

a. From the date of receiving the transfer decision for health workers and military medical personnel transferred from other places since the effective date of this Decree.

b. From the effective date of this Decree for health workers and military medical personnel currently working in areas with special economic and social difficulties.

As of the date this Decree takes effect with respect to health officials and medical staff, military medical officers working in areas with particularly difficult economic and social conditions.

Article 7. Subsidies for sightseeing, study, and professional training

1. Medical staff and military medical officers working at healthcare facilities located in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions who are sent to study and train in their specialties, foreign languages, sightseeing, and exchanging experiences shall be supported with funds for purchasing learning materials and shall be provided with 100% of tuition fees and travel allowances, as well as housing rental subsidies.

2. Medical staff and military medical officers working in ethnic minority regions within areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions who self-study ethnic languages to serve medical examination, treatment, and public health care shall be supported with funds for purchasing learning materials and language training allowances equivalent to those provided for regular school and class training.

Article 8. Subsidies for purchasing and transporting clean water

1. Annually, for areas experiencing seasonal shortages of clean water, medical staff shall be provided with subsidies for purchasing and transporting clean water to meet daily living needs after deducting the portion of living expenses included in their salaries.

2. Provincial People's Committees in areas with shortages of clean water shall decide on the timing and amount of subsidies for purchasing and transporting clean water based on the specific circumstances of each commune and island, adapting to local conditions.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 9. Effective Date

This Decree takes effect from September 15, 2009.

Article 10. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Ministry of Health shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance to guide the implementation of this Decree.

2. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under central cities shall be responsible for implementing this Decree.