Integration of Military and Civilian Medical Services in Healthcare

The decree specifies that the combination of military and civilian medical services is the integration of military medical forces and civilian medical forces to leverage the combined strength of healthcare systems, including organizations, personnel, equipment, and medical support tasks, to improve the quality of care, protection, and enhancement of the health of the population and the military, and to respond to medical emergencies.

The reserve medical force is a component of the Vietnam People's Army, consisting of reserve military personnel and medical technical equipment arranged in a readiness plan to supplement the standing forces of the Army.

The mobilized medical force is a component of the healthcare sector, including personnel and medical technical equipment arranged in a readiness plan to be mobilized to supplement the standing forces of the Army and to ensure medical emergencies.

The combination of military and civilian medical services follows principles: Adherence to the principles, policies, and laws of the Communist Party and the State, based on the functions, tasks, and authorities of military and civilian medical units; Close integration of economic-social development and healthcare development with the consolidation of national defense and security and the construction of provincial and city defense areas; Leveraging the combined strength of military and civilian medical services in executing the tasks of combining military and civilian medical services; Operating under a coordination regulation issued by the unified management agencies of military and civilian medical services.

Combining military and civilian medical services in epidemic prevention and control

Besides combining in communication about epidemic prevention and control, military and civilian medical services also combine in investigation, surveillance, and intervention in epidemic prevention and control.

To be specific: Organizing epidemiological investigations, monitoring the epidemic situation; Implementing environmental sanitation measures, managing biological and medical waste, and carrying out sterilization and disinfection measures to eliminate pathogens and disease vectors in localities and units; Implementing expanded vaccination programs for the population and military personnel; Implementing necessary medical isolation measures when required; Organizing training and drills for epidemic prevention and control in accordance with the actual situation in the locality; Combining in organizing the admission and treatment of infectious disease patients when epidemics occur; Implementing continuous training in professional techniques for epidemiological investigation, surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases that may cause epidemics; Researching infectious pathogens that pose a risk of causing human epidemics, transmission routes, disease vectors, and developing surveillance techniques for identifying epidemic-causing pathogens.

Combining military and civilian medical services in medical examination and treatment, and implementing health programs

Combining in medical examination, treatment, and implementing health programs focusing on the following: Organizing admission, diagnosis, and treatment for the population and military personnel at medical facilities; Transferring techniques, training, and continuous training in professional techniques related to medical examination and treatment; Researching diseases and treatment methods; Researching and developing medical examination and treatment techniques; Providing medical examinations and treatments for policy beneficiaries and social protection subjects; Organizing and implementing health programs in the locality.

Military medical facilities, aside from ensuring military medical services as regulated, have the responsibility to provide medical examinations and treatments for the population and armed forces in the area.

Civilian medical facilities, in addition to caring for public health, have the responsibility to provide medical examinations and treatments for the armed forces stationing in the area.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of National Defense determine the form of organizing military-civilian medical facilities.

Combining military and civilian medical services in ensuring health disaster response and mitigation

Preparing personnel, equipment, supplies, medicine, and medical supplies ready for emergency response, treatment, and transportation of injured or affected individuals. Organizing emergency response, transportation, admission, and treatment of injured or affected persons. Mitigating health consequences when natural disasters, catastrophes, and medical emergencies occur.

Registering, managing, arranging, and creating a reserve medical force, including vehicles and equipment. Training and drilling to deploy reserve medical units. Inspecting and assessing the quality and readiness of the reserve medical force.

Registering, managing, arranging, and creating mobilized medical teams, including vehicles and equipment. Training and drilling to deploy mobilized medical forces. Inspecting and assessing the quality and readiness of the mobilized medical force.

Organizational management of combined military and civilian medical activities

The heads of military and civilian medical agencies in the same area are responsible for advising their superiors on the direct command of combined military and civilian medical activities in the area.

Local authorities and military units, based on the actual situation at the local level, organize a Military-Civilian Medical Board to assist in implementing and supervising combined military and civilian medical activities in the area.

The Minister of Health provides detailed guidance on Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article, after consulting with the Ministry of National Defense.

Decree 118/2018/ND-CP takes effect from October 30, 2018.

Source: petrotimes.vn

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