DECREE

ON THE SYSTEM OF LOCAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS

THE GOVERNMENT

Pursuant To The Law On Organization Of The Government Of September 30, 1992;
Pursuant to Resolution No.37-CP of June 20, 1996 of the Government on the strategic orientations for the care for and protection of people's health in the 1996-2000 period and Vietnam's national policy on medicament;
At the proposals of the Minister of Health and the Minister-Head of the Government Commission on Organization and Personnel,

DECREES:

Article 1.- Local health organizations mentioned in this Decree include:

1. Health services of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government;

2. Health centers of districts, urban districts, provincial towns and cities (hereafter collectively referred to as district health centers);

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Article 2.- The provincial/municipal Health Services are specialized agencies attached to the People's Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government, assisting the People's Committees in performing the function of State management over the healthcare work in their respective localities; professionally manage and direct the medical activities; manage medical funds and personnel of the medical system in their respective provinces and cities directly under the Central Government according to the responsibility assignment by the competent agency.

The provincial/municipal Health Services are subject to the comprehensive management by the People's Committees of their respective provinces and cities directly under the Central Government and at the same time to the professional direction and guidance by the Ministry of Health.

Article 3.- The district health centers are organizations attached to the provincial/municipal Health Services and subject to the Health Services directors' management, direction and guidance, inspection and supervision in term of professional activities, funds and medical personnel; as well as to the management and direction by the People's Committees of the districts, urban districts, provincial towns or cities (hereafter collectively referred to as district People's Committees) in the elaboration of plans for healthcare development in the districts before submitting them to the competent agencies and are responsible for organizing the implementation of such plans after they are approved.

The district health centers perform the tasks of providing disease prevention and treatment, healthcare and protection for mothers and children as well as professional tasks related to family planning; direct, guide and inspect the professional activities of grassroots health stations; foster the professional skills of grassroots medical personnel; mobilize the branches and mass organizations in the districts to participate in health care activities; assist the district People's Committees in inspecting the observance of the law on medical activities of State bodies as well as private medical and pharmaceutical establishments in the localities.

The directors and deputy directors of district health centers are appointed or dismissed by the directors of provincial/municipal Health Services after obtaining written consents from the presidents of the district People's Committees.

Article 4.- The grassroots health stations have to assist the directors of district health centers and the People's Committees of the communes, wards and townships (hereafter collectively referred to as the commune People's Committees) in performing the assigned medical tasks in the localities.

The grassroots health stations are subject to the management, direction and guidance by the directors of the district health centers in term of professional operations, funds and medical personnel; subject to the management and direction by the commune People's Committees in working out plans for health care development before they are submitted to the competent agencies and are responsible for the implementation of such plans after they are approved; mobilize the branches and mass organizations in the communes to participate in the healthcare activities.

The heads and deputy heads of grassroots health stations are appointed or dismissed by the directors of the district health centers after obtaining written consents from the presidents of the commune People's Committees.

The grassroots health stations shall continue to perform the tasks and enjoy the specific regimes and policies in accordance with Decision No.58-TTg of February 3, 1994 and Decision No.131-TTg of March 4, 1995 of the Prime Minister.

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Article 6.- This Decree takes effect 15 days after its signing. The provisions of Resolution No.15-CP of January 14, 1975 of the Council of Ministers (now the Government) on the reform of local health organizations, which are contrary to this Decree are now annulled.

Article 7.- The ministers, the heads of the ministerial-level agencies, the heads of the agencies attached to the Government and the presidents of the People's Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government shall have to implement this Decree.

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT
THE PRIME MINISTER




Phan Van Khai