After more than 15 years of applying Decree 56/2011 on the regime of professional preferential allowances for health sector officials, the Ministry of Health is developing a new decree to replace it with many notable changes. The draft is currently being appraised by the Ministry of Justice, in which the proposal to expand the beneficiaries of allowances and sharply increase the level of incentives for grassroots health care, preventive medicine and many specialties with high work pressure is prominent.
According to the Ministry of Health, this policy amendment aims to concretize the view that "the medical profession is a special profession", and at the same time contribute to attracting and retaining medical personnel, especially at the grassroots level after the COVID-19 epidemic phase, which caused many localities to fall into a shortage of personnel.
Proposal for many positions to enjoy allowances up to 100%
The most notable point in the draft is the proposal to increase the professional preferential allowance level to a maximum of 100% for many specialized groups.
Specifically, officials who regularly and directly perform the work of examination, treatment, testing, and care for mental patients; forensic, forensic psychiatry; emergency resuscitation, intensive care, anti-poison and pathology are proposed to apply the highest allowance level.
In addition, medical staff working at commune-level health stations, preventive health facilities in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, difficult and extremely difficult areas, border areas and islands are also eligible for this preferential level.
However, the 100% allowance level will not be applied immediately but will be implemented according to a roadmap. According to the draft, from January 1, 2026 to the end of December 31, 2026, the benefit level will be 80%; from January 1, 2027 to the end of December 31, 2027, it will increase to 90%; and from January 1, 2028 onwards, the 100% level will be applied.
The Ministry of Health said that this roadmap is built on the basis of Conclusion 206-KL/TW of the Politburo on salary and allowance policies for cadres, civil servants, public employees and armed forces after arranging the organizational structure and administrative units.
Incentives increased sharply compared to the current level
Compared to the regulations currently applied under Decree 56/2011, this is considered a significant adjustment in the remuneration policy for the health sector.
According to the summary report of the Ministry of Health, many high-pressure professional groups previously only received allowances at the level of 50-60%. For example, the field of emergency resuscitation received 60%, anesthesia resuscitation or intensive care received 50%.
Meanwhile, with the new draft, the allowance level for these groups will gradually increase to a maximum of 100%, reflecting more accurately the specific nature, intensity of work and occupational risks that medical staff face.
For the remaining cases in grassroots healthcare and preventive medicine but not belonging to particularly difficult areas, the draft also proposes a minimum benefit level of 70%.
