The Ministry of Health received Official Letter No. 7291/VPCP-QHDP from the Government Office on the proposal to coordinate in responding to voters' petitions sent after the 9th session of the 15th National Assembly, in which voters of Thanh Hoa province made a recommendation: "Request the Government to direct relevant sectors to study increasing regular spending for health stations, increasing on-duty allowances for health station staff...".
Proposal to increase budget for grassroots health care
Responding to voters, regarding the increase in regular spending on health stations, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that currently, the allocation of the health budget is being implemented according to the provisions of the 2015 State Budget Law and Decision No. 30/2021/QD-TTg dated October 10, 2021 of the Prime Minister.
The central budget supplements localities that have not yet balanced their budgets, clearly stipulating the allocation of expenditures for health care, population and family care for each region, ensuring priority for disadvantaged areas, especially disadvantaged areas, border areas and islands.
At the same time, the People's Council and the Provincial People's Committee shall base on the local budget capacity to decide to allocate a minimum of 30% of the health budget for preventive medicine, prioritizing grassroots health in the spirit of Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017 of the 6th Central Conference, 12th tenure.
Minister Dao Hong Lan said that the Government is currently directing the Ministry of Finance to develop principles, criteria and norms for allocating regular expenditure estimates for the period 2026-2030.
In that spirit, the Ministry of Health issued Official Letter No. 1259/BYT-KHTC dated March 7, 2025 to the Ministry of Finance, proposing to adjust the spending norms in 2026 to increase them to a higher level than the current norms and recommending adding regulations: Allocate at least 30% to preventive medicine, for grassroots health (commune and ward health stations) at least 40% of total health budget expenditure, continue to prioritize hospitals in disadvantaged areas, border areas, islands, as well as diseases, tuberculosis, mental health and other specific fields.
Completing the draft Decree regulating a number of special allowance regimes
Regarding the increase in on-duty allowances for health station staff, Minister Dao Hong Lan said: Implementing Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025 of the Politburo on a number of breakthrough solutions to strengthen the work of protecting, caring for and improving people's health; at the same time, implementing Decision No. 150/QD-TTg dated January 16, 2025 of the Prime Minister promulgating the Work Program for 2025, the Ministry of Health is drafting a Decree regulating a number of special allowance regimes for civil servants, public employees, workers and armed forces in public health facilities.
This Decree also stipulates the anti-epidemic allowance regime, support regime for village health workers, residential groups and midwives in villages and hamlets; expected to be submitted to the Government in the fourth quarter of 2025.
In the draft, the Ministry of Health proposed to adjust the allowances for on-duty, surgical, procedures, anti-epidemic allowances and food allowances in the direction of inheriting Decision No. 73/2011/QD-TTg but updated on the basis of the new basic salary.
The Ministry of Health has calculated the corresponding adjustment level, ensuring compliance with reality and contributing to motivating and encouraging grassroots health workers to work with peace of mind.
