Vietnam: What are the benefits for retired military officials suffering from terminal illnesses?

Vietnam: What are the benefits for retired military officials suffering from terminal illnesses? (Illustrative image)

Under  Article 6 of Circular 158/2011/TT-BQP, benefits for retired military officials suffering from terminal illnesses in Vietnam are specified as follows:

1. Beneficiaries:

Retired military officials who suffer from any of the diseases listed in the List of terminal illnesses provided in Appendix No. 01 issued with Circular 158/2011/TT-BQP and are recognized by the Provincial Military Command as suffering from terminal illness will receive quarterly allowances; officials who pass away will terminate to receive allowances from the following quarter.

2. Benefit policies:

- The terminal illness allowance is paid from the date the competent authority signs the decision for the entire quarter; the allowance per person per quarter is equivalent to one (01) month's statutory minimum wage as prescribed by the Government of Vietnam at the time of payment;

- Retired military officials who suffer from terminal illnesses and receive treatment at military hospitals are entitled to the difference between the allowance for pathological diet and the basic diet paid by the hospital.

3. Terminal illness documentation:

The documentation for retired military officials who suffer from terminal illnesses is compiled into one (01) set according to the forms specified in Appendix 2 issued with this Circular, including:

- Application for consideration for benefits (Form No. 01/2011/BHN);

- Record of terminal illness assessment (Form No. 02/2011/BHN);

- Decision on the recognition of suffering from terminal illnesses (Form No. 03/2011/BHN);

The Provincial Military Command (Policy Department) archives and manages the documentation.

4. Responsibility for compiling, receiving, and processing documentation:

Retired military officials or their relatives should submit the documentation to the Military Command of the commune or ward where they reside. The documentation includes:

- Application for consideration of terminal illness policies (01 copy);

- Relevant documents pertaining to the treatment of terminal illness, including a copy of the medical record or one of the following other documents: Health book, test results (01 copy);

- Copy of retired military officials' retirement decision or registration form (01 copy).

The Military Command of the commune or ward where the entity resides will receive and transfer the valid documentation to the District Military Command within 5 working days from the date of receipt.

The District Military Command will receive the documentation from the Commune Military Command, verify the documentation and illness status as per the regulations; compile a list of entities (with attached documentation) and report to the Provincial Military Command within 5 working days from the date of receipt.

The Provincial Military Command will instruct the functional department (Policy Department) to receive the documentation and lists from the District Military Commands, verify and organize assessments according to regulations, and if conditions are met, take minutes for the Provincial Military Command Chief to sign the decision on the recognition of suffering from terminal illnesses within 10 working days from the date of receipt.

Lists will be reported to the Military Region Political Department (through the Policy Division).

5. Organization of terminal illness assessment

- The Terminal Illness Assessment Council for retired military officials (hereafter referred to as the Council) is established by the Provincial Military Command. The Council comprises the Chairman of the Council (Chief of Military Medical Service); a standing member (Chief of Policy Department); a secretary (military medical assistant doctor); and other members (the Chief of Personnel Department and chief of the Military Force Department. For the Hanoi Capital Command, the equivalent positions are specified.

- The Council is tasked with organizing assessments through documentation or direct assessments of patients (in cases where there is no documentation):

- Documentation-based assessment: It must be based on a copy of the medical record, relevant test results of civilian hospitals from the district or higher or Military hospitals where the entity has been treated; carefully examining the content of examinations, tests, and specialized diagnoses in the copy of the medical record to match and conclude the assessment according to the standards in “Appendix 1 - List of terminal illnesses” issued with this Circular.

- Direct assessment: When there is no medical record from the hospital, the Council will conduct a direct assessment at the person's home or medical facilities through clinical examination and necessary tests. The assessment will be concluded according to the standards in “Appendix 1 - List of Terminal Illnesses."

The Chairman of the Council and members are responsible for the accuracy of the assessment conclusions. If consensus on the conclusion cannot be reached, the documentation will be forwarded to the Medical Assessment Council at the military region level.

More details can be found in Circular 158/2011/TT-BQP effective from September 29, 2011.

Thuy Tram

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