Nearly 10,000 social workers work in hospitals and medical facilities across the country.

GĐXH - On March 20, the Ministry of Health organized the Conference on Social Work (CTXH) in the health sector in 2025 "Inter-sectoral coordination in developing social work activities in the health sector" in Da Nang city.

The program was attended by Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan - Deputy Minister of Health and many social workers representing Departments of Health and hospitals nationwide.

Opening the conference, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Organization and Personnel read a letter from Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan congratulating cadres, civil servants, public employees, employees and social work collaborators in the medical sector nationwide.

Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan - Deputy Minister of Health spoke at the Conference

At the Conference, Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan - Deputy Minister of Health acknowledged the contributions of social work activities in the health sector in recent times. In 2010, the Government approved the Project on developing the social work profession for the period 2010-2020. From then on, social work was identified as a specialized profession, gradually receiving attention and strong development. By 2016, the Government continued to affirm the role of social work, officially taking March 25 every year as "Vietnam Social Work Day".

To date, 100% of central hospitals and more than 90% of provincial and district general and specialized hospitals have established Social Work Departments. Social work human resources in the health sector have also increased rapidly, with nearly 10,000 employees working in hospitals and medical facilities nationwide, with high professional qualifications, contributing to improving the quality of health care and protection for the people. Social work activities have shifted from spontaneous, mainly charitable, to more professional and diverse, including counseling, psychological support, case management, helping patients, their families and medical staff. Inter-sectoral coordination with the police, justice and social protection has been effectively implemented, along with a focus on training and improving the quality of human resources.

However, the process of developing social work activities in the health sector in a professional direction still faces many difficulties and challenges, such as the social work workforce in the health sector is mainly composed of people with medical expertise, while the number of human resources trained in social work is limited. According to Decree No. 110/2024/ND-CP, from January 1, 2027, social workers must have a practice certificate, but with the current human resources characteristics, meeting this requirement is a big challenge. Some units have not properly assessed the role of social work, leading to the quality of activities not being properly invested, such as in preventive health facilities, population and other fields...

In order to continue implementing Decision No. 112/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister and Decision No. 712/QD-BYT of the Ministry of Health on developing social work in the period 2021-2030, Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan proposed a number of key tasks as follows:

Firstly, strengthen and develop the social work system in the health sector, 100% of provincial and district hospitals and medical facilities have social work departments, expand social work in preventive health facilities, population and other fields;

Second, improve the quality and professionalize the human resources; Strengthen training and professional development for social workers in the health sector; Complete training programs, materials and reference materials to raise awareness of the position, role and content of social work activities in the health sector.

Third, promote propaganda work to raise awareness among leaders of health facilities, cadres, civil servants, public employees and medical staff about the important role of social work in health. Develop an effective communication strategy so that social work is properly understood, implemented synchronously and brings practical value to patients and society.

Fourth, move towards establishing a Health Sector Social Work Association; Organize inspection, supervision and evaluation of the implementation of social work activities at health facilities to promptly adjust and improve implementation effectiveness.

Fifth, promote coordination between the health sector and relevant agencies such as the police, justice, social protection and cooperation with international organizations to improve the effectiveness of social work in the health sector.

Ms. Michaela Bauer - Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam once again affirmed the role of social workers in health care facilities, for the community, especially when there are natural disasters, catastrophes, climate change... In Vietnam, UNICEF has supported the development of professional social work in the health sector. Recognizing the importance of social work in improving health care, welfare and protection of children, women... UNICEF is committed to continuing to cooperate with the Ministry of Health in improving the development of social work...

The conference listened to reports from departments, offices and units in the Ministry of Health such as: "Guidelines for implementing Circular No. 51/2024/TT-BYT regulating the implementation of social work in medical examination and treatment facilities" - Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Ministry of Health; "Implementing the social work plan for the health sector in 2025" - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Organization and Personnel, Ministry of Health; "Sharing about the role of social work in responding to climate change" - Ms. Le Hong Loan, Head of the Department of Child Protection, UNICEF Vietnam; "The role of the social protection sector in inter-sectoral coordination to implement social work activities in the health sector" - Dr. Pham Thi Hai Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Protection, Ministry of Health; “Current situation and proposals on inter-sectoral coordination in social work activities in the health sector” – Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Tien Nam, Head of Social Work Department, University of Public Health; “Model of child and women protection at the National Children's Hospital: The necessity of multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary coordination” – Dr. Phi Quynh Anh, Head of Social Work Department, National Children's Hospital; “Sharing experiences in inter-sectoral coordination in social work activities at the Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital of Ca Mau province” – MSc. Ninh Thi Ly, Head of Social Work Department, Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital of Ca Mau province.

Interdisciplinary coordination in developing social work in the health sector will build a trusting relationship with patients, creating an open and transparent communication environment towards patient satisfaction.

In particular, at the E Hospital program, there was a sharing article: "Sharing experiences in organizing inter-sectoral coordination in social work activities at E Hospital" - presented by MSc. Luu Hoang Linh, Deputy Head of Social Work Department, E Hospital. As a connector, the Social Work Department, E Hospital has connected philanthropists, local government agencies, police at all levels, embassies, schools, social insurance agencies at all levels and especially the smooth coordination between departments in the hospital to promptly support patients and their families...

The discussion was lively with many opinions exchanged and shared about practical knowledge about social work activities in hospitals and challenges; emphasizing the role of social workers and interdisciplinary coordination in developing social work in the health sector... to build a trusting relationship with patients, create an open and transparent communication environment towards patient satisfaction.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/gan-10000-nhan-vien-cong-tac-xa-hoi-hoat-dong-tai-cac-benh-vien-co-so-y-te-tren-ca-nuoc-172250320145627214.htm