Clause 2, Article 2 of Inter-Ministerial Circular No. 02/2012/TTLT-BYT-BNV-BTC, dated January 19, 2012, issued by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Finance, provides guidance on the implementation of Decree No. 56/2011/NĐ-CP, which defines the scope of application for occupational allowances as follows:

"2. Officials directly engaged in healthcare professions (with a salary classification not starting with the two initial digits of job codes 16 or 13) performing the following tasks:

a) Operation and maintenance of medical equipment;

b) Rearing and cultivation of animals, plants, and experimental insects for medical research purposes;

c) Healthcare professions for conducting health education and communication tasks."

However, the circular does not specify the provisions for officials directly engaged in healthcare professions (with a salary classification not starting with the two initial digits of job codes 16 or 13) performing the tasks stipulated in Clause 1, Article 2 of the circular.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Linh (Gia Lai) inquired about the occupational allowance entitlement for officials directly engaged in healthcare professions (with a salary classification not starting with the two initial digits of job codes 16 or 13) who are performing their duties.

Specifically, job code 06.031 refers to an accountant working in the Department of Border Health Quarantine. Job responsibilities include collecting and submitting fees for health quarantine services, disinfecting vehicles crossing the border, implementing medical measures for quarantined individuals according to current regulations, and other tasks assigned by the department head.

Job code 01.003 refers to a specialist (specializing in environmental science) working in the Department of Environmental Health - School Health - Occupational Health. Job responsibilities include conducting activities to prevent and control environmental factors and climate change impacts on community health, environmental protection in healthcare facilities, occupational health and hygiene conditions, the quality of drinking water and domestic water, hygiene in households, sanitation in schools, disaster and accident prevention, and other tasks assigned by the department head.

Regarding this matter, the Ministry of Health responds as follows:

Currently, the regime of professional allowances for civil servants working at public healthcare facilities is implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Government's Decree No. 56/2011/ND-CP dated July 4, 2011, the Joint Circular No. 02/2012/TTLT-BYT-BNV-BTC dated January 19, 2012, guiding the implementation of Decree No. 56/2011/ND-CP, and the Government's Decree No. 05/2023/ND-CP dated February 15, 2023, amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree No. 56/2011/ND-CP.

Point b, Clause 5, and Clause 6, Article 3 of Decree No. 56/2011/ND-CP stipulate a 30% allowance applicable to the following civil servants:

- Civil servants who are managers and service providers not directly involved in healthcare professions at facilities, institutes, specialized hospitals, and centers for HIV/AIDS, dermatology, tuberculosis, psychiatry, pathological anatomy, and forensic medicine.

- For civil servants who are not directly involved in healthcare professions, and healthcare civil servants who serve in managerial and service positions at healthcare establishments in general (excluding the subjects specified in Point b, Clause 5 of this Article), and civil servants who work in healthcare professions at agencies, units, and schools, the heads of the units, based on the nature of the work and available resources, shall consider and decide, but the allowance shall not exceed 20% of the salary level, rank, including additional allowances for leadership positions and seniority allowances beyond the salary scale (if any) of the eligible individuals.

Point c, Clause 5, and Clause 6, Article 4 of the Joint Circular No. 02/2012/TTLT-BYT-BNV-BTC stipulate the applicable allowance levels for the following civil servants:

- Civil servants who are managers and service providers not directly involved in healthcare professions at facilities, institutes, hospitals, and centers belonging to the following specialties: HIV/AIDS, dermatology, tuberculosis, psychiatry, pathological anatomy, and forensic medicine, as specified in Point b, Clause 5, Article 3 of Decree No. 56/2011/ND-CP.

- For civil servants who are not directly involved in healthcare professions, and healthcare civil servants who serve in managerial and service positions at public healthcare establishments (excluding the subjects specified in Point c, Clause 5 of this Article), and civil servants who work in healthcare professions at agencies, units, and schools, the head of the unit shall consider and decide on the application of the allowance level stipulated in Clause 6, Article 3 of Decree No. 56/2011/ND-CP, based on the nature of the work and available resources.

Therefore, civil servants working at public healthcare facilities, appointed as accountants and specialists in accordance with the provisions of the law, and assigned tasks according to the approved position plan, are entitled to receive professional allowances as stipulated in Point b, Clause 5, and Clause 6, Article 3 of Decree No. 56/2011/ND-CP, and Point c, Clause 5, and Clause 6, Article 4 of Joint Circular No. 02/2012/TTLT-BYT-BNV-BTC.