Lao Cai dialogues on leave policies for officials with serious illnesses

The locality hopes the province will have a suitable solution

To be able to participate in the dialogue, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Lien (born in 1988, civil servant of the Department of Culture - Social Affairs of Xuan Ai commune) who is treating encephalitis and Myasthenia gravis had to ask her relatives to carry it to the People's Committee of the commune.

The woman had difficulty breathing, hair loss due to using chemicals, shaking limbs to present her medical record, and discharge papers. She said: On July 9, she discovered the disease and had to be treated for a long time at Bach Mai Hospital and Phu Tho General Hospital. Her left leg and left arm gradually became weak and could not move, and she had to be served by relatives for all personal activities.

"Both my husband and I are civil servants and are raising a 2-year-old child. Nearly 3 months of treatment have cost more than 100 million VND, now I have to be hospitalized for 10-15 days each month to get medicine. I am young, enthusiastic and responsible when I have completed my tasks excellently for 2 consecutive years, and been a competitive soldier for 2 consecutive years, so I have never wanted to retire. Now that I am unfortunately sick, I hope the departments and branches will create conditions for me to be able to treat my illness for a long time," Ms. Lien choked up.

Mr. Nguyen The Cuong - Chairman of Xuan Ai Commune People's Committee expressed his opinion: "Seeing Ms. Lien here, it is not possible to go, so according to the comrades, can we continue working or not? The locality sympathized when the disease suddenly hit Ms. Lien and created all conditions, including sending officers to take Ms. Lien to work with the Department of Home Affairs.

We think that Ms. Lien's policy retirement is completely reasonable. On September 17, the Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee also assigned departments and branches to consider. Here, there are only regulations, if it is not resolved to quit according to Decree 178, then I hope there will be other appropriate support policies," said Mr. Cuong.

Mr. Luu Trung Kien - Secretary of the Xuan Ai Commune Party Committee also shared: "No one wants a serious illness, so I really hope the province has a suitable solution and cannot strictly apply the regulations".

The approval period has passed

At the meeting, Mr. Duong Thai Hiep - Head of the Medical Department - Lao Cai Provincial Department of Health - said: According to the regulations of the Ministry of Health, only Circular No. 50 stipulates the list of serious diseases for us to apply and establish an appraisal council.

Ms. Lien's medical records describe hemiplegia but the hospital's records have not been fully presented, so the comparison of regulations does not satisfy the standards and conditions to determine a serious disease.

"Ms. Lien can have a health assessment and medical assessment to be able to quit her job as a result of loss of working capacity with the support of the State. The Department of Health only determines whether the disease is serious or not, and whether they are still entitled to leave under the policy or not will be decided by the Department of Home Affairs, said Mr. Duong Thai Hiep.

Responding to the above contents, Mr. Le Anh Duc - Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs of Lao Cai province - said: "On August 13, the Department of Home Affairs received a submission from the People's Committee of Xuan Ai commune. Based on the documents provided by the Commune People's Committee, the Department conducted the appraisal in accordance with regulations.

Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee also issued Conclusion No. 67 stating that the appraisal must comply with the provisions of law. If his name is not on the surplus list, he will only consider resolving the case of being determined by a health agency as a serious disease according to the Health Circular. We only appraise the documents provided by the agency and unit, but cannot go directly. Therefore, in Ms. Lien's case, the Department of Home Affairs announced that she was not eligible for this policy.

"We have worked very fairly and objectively. After August 31, 2025, the time for review and settlement according to Decree 178 has now passed. We propose that Xuan Ai commune consider resolving Ms. Lien's resignation wish under current regimes other than Decree 178", added the Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs of Lao Cai province.

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