The Ministry of Health is submitting to the Government a draft decree proposing to increase the level of professional preferential allowances for medical staff, of which the highest level is up to 80% for professionals at commune-level health stations and preventive health facilities in mountainous, difficult, border, and island areas.
Higher support for village and residential group health workers
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan stated the above content in a document responding to the recommendations of voters in Thai Nguyen province and Da Nang city on preferential policies for grassroots health workers.
Thai Nguyen voters proposed that the Ministry of Health consider increasing allowances for village health workers and population collaborators. These are forces directly sticking to the area, supporting health care, disease prevention and control, and implementing population work in the community.
According to Minister Dao Hong Lan, policies for this force have been adjusted in 2026.
Specifically, Decree 192/2026/ND-CP dated May 30, 2026 stipulates the monthly support level for village and residential group health workers and village and hamlet midwives in a higher direction than before.
Medical staff are entitled to a support level of 0.7 times the base salary if they work in villages with 350 or more households, residential groups with 500 or more households, or in areas in difficult areas.
The remaining areas are entitled to a level of 0.5 times the base salary.
The new policy also supplements the subjects of health workers in residential groups, neighborhoods and village and hamlet midwives, and at the same time replaces previous regulations on allowances, in order to be more suitable for socio-economic conditions and the current legal system.
Population collaborators are also given increased support
For population collaborators, Decree 168/2026/ND-CP dated May 15, 2026 stipulates the monthly remuneration level calculated according to the base salary.
Accordingly, population collaborators in areas with large population sizes or in difficult areas are entitled to 0.5 times the base salary.
This level applies to collaborators working in villages with 350 or more households; particularly difficult villages; villages and hamlets in difficult communes; residential groups and neighborhoods with 500 or more households.
The remaining areas are entitled to 0.4 times the base salary.
Proposal for professional preferential allowances up to 80%
Notably, before the proposal of voters in Da Nang City on having strong enough policies to attract doctors and medical staff to work at commune health stations in mountainous and border areas, the Ministry of Health said it is proposing a new policy on professional preferential allowances.
The Ministry of Health has submitted to the Government the draft Decree regulating the regime of professional preferential allowances for medical staff in Official Dispatch No. 1207/TTr-BYT dated June 30, 2026.
According to the draft, the highest allowance level is 80% for medical professionals at commune-level health stations and preventive health facilities in the following areas:
Ethnic minority and mountainous areas;
Areas with difficult and extremely difficult socio-economic conditions;
Border areas;
Sea and island areas.
Meanwhile, medical professionals at commune-level health stations and preventive health facilities in the remaining areas are proposed to enjoy a 70% allowance.
If promulgated, this policy will create more motivation for medical staff to stick with the grassroots level, especially in areas facing many difficulties in attracting and retaining medical personnel.
The Ministry of Health said that the above proposal aims to gradually institutionalize Resolution No. 261/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly on special policies for medical staff.
