How will primary health care operate when implementing two-tier local government?

At the online meeting to collect local opinions on developing guidelines for the arrangement and reorganization of medical facilities in administrative units after the arrangement and reorganization according to the two-level local government organization model chaired by Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, the issue of reorganizing medical facilities after administrative units are rearranged was urgently raised.

Minister Dao Hong Lan emphasized the consistent direction: "The organization and arrangement of the apparatus must go hand in hand with maintaining the effectiveness of medical examination and treatment activities, disease prevention, and not allowing gaps in people's health care."

According to the draft guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health , when implementing the two-level local government model, commune and ward health stations will continue to be maintained and developed. These will be public health service units, under the commune-level People's Committee or under the Department of Health, depending on the specific organizational model of each locality.

Commune and ward health stations have legal status, headquarters, seals and separate accounts, ensuring independence in professional and financial activities. Maintaining at least one health station in each commune and ward will be based on the population size, natural area, geographical characteristics and socio-economic conditions of that locality.

In terms of function, grassroots health stations continue to be the place to provide primary health services, including: routine medical examination and treatment, disease prevention, rehabilitation, health care for mothers, children, and the elderly, ensuring food safety, managing and dispensing drugs and vaccines, providing population services, social assistance, and other community health activities.

Regarding human resources, each health station will have a streamlined but qualified staff structure, including the following positions: doctors, general practitioners (2-3 people), nurses, midwives, medical technicians, pharmacists, medical equipment managers, social workers, and administrators. The number of people working at each station will be based on the job position, specific functions and tasks approved annually. This helps ensure proactiveness and flexibility in personnel arrangement, closely linked to practical needs and local resources.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/suc-khoe/202504/y-te-co-so-se-van-hanh-the-nao-khi-thuc-xien-chinh-quyen-dia-phuong-hai-cap-43552cc/