Building criteria for evaluating medical human resources to ensure scientific and flexible

On March 14, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired an online conference with provinces and cities on the draft decision to replace Decision No. 956/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on the establishment of the National Medical Council (Council). Attending at the Hanoi bridge were Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha and representatives of the Hanoi Department of Health.

Reporting at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said that, in terms of legal basis, closely following the direction of Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW, Law on Medical Examination and Treatment (amended), after 3 years of implementing Decision No. 956/QD-TTg, some shortcomings have been revealed that need to be revised and adjusted.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at the conference. Photo: VGP/MK

For example, the type of organization has not been specifically defined; functions and tasks are not clear, not in accordance with the Law on Health Insurance (amended); standards, conditions, and procedures for appointing Council leaders, Council members, and professional support committees have not been specified; etc.

Accordingly, the draft Decision of the Prime Minister on the establishment of the Council (replacing Decision No. 956/QD-TTg) includes 5 articles, in which the Council is defined as an organization established by the Prime Minister, with the function of assisting the Minister of Health in independently assessing the capacity to practice medical examination and treatment; has its own seal, account and headquarters located in Hanoi.

The Council has 5 tasks: Preside over coordination with social-professional organizations on medical examination and treatment and other relevant agencies and organizations in developing a set of tools to assess medical examination and treatment practice capacity; issue tools to assess medical examination and treatment practice capacity; preside over organizing examination and assessment of medical examination and treatment practice capacity.

Overview of the conference. — Conference overview.

The Council is responsible for receiving and resolving complaints and appeals, or coordinating with State management agencies in resolving complaints and denunciations about the results of examinations and assessments of medical practice capacity; performing other tasks as prescribed.

At the conference, many delegates said that the establishment of the National Medical Council is one of the important solutions to improve the quality of medical human resources, better implement disease prevention and medical examination and treatment for people. Therefore, the organization must ensure quality and efficiency, ensuring that the Medical Council operates according to its functions, tasks and powers as prescribed.

However, this is the first time Vietnam has implemented the National Medical Council model, so it has no experience. Therefore, it is necessary to refer to the implementation of this model in other countries around the world.

Speaking at the conference, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment (amended) 2023 has institutionalized innovative and breakthrough policies in the health sector.

In particular, the role, position, function and tasks of the Council in independently assessing the capacity of medical practice continue to be enhanced, approaching international practices and harmonizing with the characteristics of Vietnam. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the Prime Minister's decision on the establishment of the National Medical Council.

Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Vu Thu Ha and representatives of the Hanoi Department of Health attended at the Hanoi bridge point. — Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Vu Thu Ha and representatives of the Hanoi Department of Health attended at the Hanoi bridge.

Regarding the requirements for practical, effective and simple operations, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Council to develop methods and criteria for standard, feasible assessment suitable for the Vietnamese healthcare system; procedures for receiving and recognizing international assessment standards; combining national capacity assessment exams and decentralization for hospitals and medical facilities; assessment process for special cases; decentralization... ensuring scientific and strictness, but with openness and flexibility.

In addition, the Council urgently developed a set of criteria for selecting medical universities, hospitals... that are qualified to organize exams to assess medical practice capacity, both in theory and practice, towards forming a system to assess the quality of medical human resources nationwide, creating convenience for medical staff not to have to travel far, concentrating in large cities.

“When establishing councils to assess the capacity of medical practitioners, there must be the participation of representatives of practice facilities, training facilities, associations, management agencies, etc.; the Ministry of Health must coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Home Affairs to unify the organizational model, operations, policies, etc. of the Council,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

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