Guidance on Handling Overlaps in Health Inspection Activities

Decree 122/2014/ND-CP provides guidance on addressing overlaps in health inspection activities according to the following regulations:

- If the inspection plan of a lower-level agency overlaps with the plan of a higher-level agency, the plan of the higher-level agency shall be followed.

- The Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Health is responsible for taking the lead in handling overlaps in the scope, subject, content, and time of inspections between the General Department, Departments under the Ministry of Health assigned to carry out specialized inspection functions; cooperate with the Chief Inspectors of Ministries and equivalent agencies in resolving overlaps in inspection activities between inspectorates of Ministries and equivalent agencies; coordinate with the Chief Inspector of the province to resolve overlaps in health inspection activities with local inspectorates; submit to the Minister of Health for consideration and decision when necessary.

- The Chief Inspector of the Department of Health reports to the Chief Inspector of the province on handling overlaps in inspection activities with local inspectorates. If there is an overlap with agencies assigned to carry out health inspection functions, they should coordinate for resolution; report to the Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Health for consideration and decision when necessary.

Guidance on addressing overlaps in health inspection activities (Illustrative image)

Additionally, this Decree also provides for the development and approval of annual inspection plans. Specifically:

- The Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health, based on the requirements of the work task and the orientation of the inspection program, following the guidance of the Chief Inspector of the Government of Vietnam, submits the inspection plan for the following year to the Minister of Health for approval.

- General Departments and Departments assigned to carry out specialized inspection functions shall develop their inspection plans and send them to the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health no later than November 1 of the year. Based on the orientation of the inspection program, guidance of the Chief Inspector of the Government of Vietnam, the Minister of Health, and management requirements, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health is responsible for consolidating and developing the inspection plan for the following year and submitting it to the Minister of Health for approval.

The Minister of Health shall approve the annual inspection plan of the Ministry of Health no later than November 25 of the year.

- Sub-departments assigned to carry out specialized inspection functions shall develop their inspection plans and send them to the Inspectorate of the Department of Health no later than December 1 of the year.

- The Inspectorate of the Department of Health is responsible for consolidating the inspection plan of the Inspectorate of the Department of Health and the Sub-departments assigned to carry out specialized inspection functions and developing the inspection plan for the following year, submitting it to the Director of the Department of Health no later than December 5 of the year.

The Director of the Department of Health shall approve the inspection plan of the Department of Health no later than December 15 of the year; send it to the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health no later than December 25 of the year.

- Any approved inspection plan that needs adjustment must be reported to the head of the competent authority for approval of adjustment.

Details can be viewed at Decree 122/2014/ND-CP, effective from February 27, 2015.

Le Hai

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