The Decree aims to overcome the shortcomings of Decree No. 56/2011/ND-CP after more than 13 years of application.
According to the Ministry of Health, Decree No. 56/2011/ND-CP has contributed to improving income and increasing motivation for health workers. However, due to changes in disease patterns, the emergence of new epidemics and the increase in non-communicable diseases, many challenges have been posed, especially for preventive medicine.
There have been many changes to the preferential allowance regime for medical staff. Compared to the old regulations, many medical staff are proposed to have their preferential allowances increased, and be included in groups with allowances of 70%; 60%; 50%; 40% and 30%. According to the new proposal, the current 20% level will no longer apply.
The Ministry of Health is seeking comments on this draft decree and has received comments from medical staff sent to Lao Dong Newspaper after the article "The hope of medical staff after 13 years of no increase in allowances".
Ms. Bui Tue Anh - a school health worker - would like to propose comments on the draft: "Regarding the regulation of the allowance level of 30% (instead of the sentence "the head of the unit shall consider and decide based on the specific work and revenue sources, but not exceeding 30%") to make it easier for the facility to implement. Because in Decree No. 56/2011/ND-CP dated July 4, 2011 of the Government, some places receive 20%, some places receive 10% and many places do not receive it. We really hope to consider determining the specific allowance level of 30%, or more than 30%.
We are the first to come into contact with epidemics occurring at schools, and are the ones directly involved in disease control at schools and occupational safety and hygiene issues. With an average number of students of 400-2,000 students/school (some boarding schools have to work through the day and night), the 30% allowance is still a disadvantage compared to other sectors with less pressure in terms of responsibility and time."
"School health workers are expected to enjoy preferential allowances appropriate to the specific nature of their work. And the funding source is from the state budget, not from the unit's revenue.
Because according to Decree 56/2011 of the Government, the preferential treatment of school health workers is hindered by the lack of revenue from the unit, so in many places, school health workers do not enjoy any preferential treatment, and life on a meager salary is very difficult and hard," Ms. Tue Anh shared more...
"It is wrong to say that school health workers do not directly do medical work. School health workers are directly doing medical work but working in an educational environment, not in medical facilities. So school health workers are very helpless, hoping to receive more attention from the Ministry of Health for this child. I hope that school health workers will receive a 30% allowance from the state budget, instead of 20% depending on the school's revenue as it is now," said Ms. Nguyen Hue - who is working at a school.
Ms. Dinh Lan - a school health worker in a district in Ninh Binh province - said that she has worked for more than 14 years as a school health worker but has never received any benefits from Decree 56/2011. "School health workers are still medical professionals, but their allowances and benefits are very low compared to the general level of society. Don't abandon them" - Ms. Dinh Lan hoped.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc said that it is necessary to propose adjusting the allowances for this group because the current level is too low and too outdated. There needs to be a policy that is appropriate for the efforts of workers such as engineers, teachers or medical staff. The allowances for medical staff have been implemented for 13 years now, so they are very outdated.
