From July 1, 2025, what are the functions and tasks of the Department of Health and commune-level health care?

(DN)- From July 1, 2025, Circular No. 20/2025/TT-BYT dated June 23, 2025 of the Ministry of Health guiding the functions, tasks and powers of specialized health agencies under the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities and People's Committees of communes, wards and special zones under provinces and centrally run cities officially takes effect.

People get medical examination at the General Clinic under Long Thanh District Medical Center. Photo: Hanh Dung

Accordingly, the Department of Health is a professional agency under the Provincial People's Committee, has legal status, its own seal and account according to the provisions of law; is subject to the direction and management of the Provincial People's Committee in terms of organization, staffing and operation, and is subject to the direction, inspection and guidance on expertise and profession of the Ministry of Health .

The Department of Health has the function of advising and assisting the Provincial People's Committee in state management of the health sector, including: preventive medicine; medical examination, treatment, rehabilitation; medical examination, forensic medicine, forensic psychiatry; mothers and children; population; prevention and control of social evils (except drug addiction treatment and post-drug addiction treatment management); management and use of the Children's Protection Fund; social protection; traditional medicine and pharmacy; pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; food safety; medical equipment; health insurance in accordance with the law.

At the commune level, the Department of Culture and Society is a specialized agency under the People's Committee at the commune level, advising and assisting the People's Committee at the commune level in performing state management in the field of health and other fields according to the provisions of law.

The Department of Culture and Society is under the direction and management of the People's Committee at the commune level in terms of organization, job positions, civil servant payroll, civil servant rank structure and work; under the direction, inspection and professional guidance in the medical field of the Department of Health.

Also in this Circular, the current district-level health centers are transferred to the Department of Health for management, with the task of providing health services according to the inter-commune and ward areas. The commune, ward, town health stations and regional polyclinics (if any) currently under the health center will continue to be maintained. In case of administrative unit merger, the old commune health stations will be arranged into a new health station; maintain the health points in the old commune to serve the people until there are new instructions from the Ministry of Health.

Hanh Dung

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/y-te/202506/tu-ngay-1-7-2025-so-y-te-y-te-tuyen-xa-co-chuc-nang-nhiem-vu-gi-0230929/