Salary reform and specific allowance regimes for the health sector

Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper reporter, Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam - Member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Chairman of the Vietnam Health Trade Union expressed his hope that the 14th National Congress of the Party will continue to have decisions that pay more deep attention to the lives, income, working conditions and occupational safety of cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers in the health sector.

Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam said that in recent years, the health sector has made many outstanding efforts, especially in disease prevention and control, and people's health care, contributing significantly to social stability and the country's socio-economic development.

However, according to Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam, practice shows that the lives, incomes, and working conditions of a number of health workers are still facing many difficulties; mechanisms and policies are still inadequate, not keeping up with practical requirements. High work pressure, specific working environment, high risk of occupational risks, but the treatment is not commensurate.

From that practice, the Vietnam Health Trade Union respectfully recommends that the 14th National Party Congress pay attention to and direct a number of key contents, including the orientation of health development strategy, suggesting that the 14th National Party Congress continue to affirm that health is a pillar of social security, investing in health is an investment for sustainable development; have a long-term strategic orientation to build a fair, effective, modern health system, adapting to population aging, emerging epidemics, climate change and the requirements of international integration.

In addition, direct the full and synchronous concretization of the Party's resolutions on health, especially Resolution 72-NQ/TW of the Politburo on "Some breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of people's health", ensuring feasibility in organization and implementation.

Regarding policies for health workers, Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam suggested continuing to pay more deep attention to the lives, income, working conditions and occupational safety of health workers, civil servants, public employees and workers.

Accordingly, there is a breakthrough in salary reform and specific allowance regimes for the health sector, especially on-duty allowances, toxic allowances, allowances for disease prevention and control by amending Decision No. 73/2011/QD-TTg and Decree No. 56/2011/ND-CP.

Develop a policy to retain and attract high-quality medical human resources, especially for grassroots health care, remote areas, and disadvantaged areas; have a mechanism to protect health workers who dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility for the common good in performing professional tasks.

Regarding the financial mechanism and autonomy of health care units, Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam proposed to clearly orient the autonomy model for public health care units, in line with the specific nature of the industry, without commercializing health care services.

Along with that, the State continues to play a leading role in investing in preventive medicine, grassroots health care, ensuring the budget for political tasks, and taking care of people's health; having a stable and sustainable financial mechanism for grassroots health facilities and disadvantaged areas.

Regarding the role of trade unions in the health sector, Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam suggested that the 14th National Congress continue to affirm and strengthen the role of trade unions in the political system, especially in the health sector.

Create conditions for the Vietnam Health Trade Union to participate early, from practice in the process of developing and amending policies and laws related to the health sector and workers. In addition, link trade union activities with Party building work, build a team of health workers who are politically strong, good at their profession, and bright in medical ethics.

The Vietnam Health Trade Union believes that, with the strategic vision and correct decisions of the 14th National Congress of the Party, the Vietnamese health sector will continue to develop sustainably; the medical staff will be better cared for and cared for, thereby contributing to improving the quality of protection, care and improving people's health in the new period, said Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam.

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