Công văn 7038/VPCP-KTTH

Considering the request of the Ministry of Finance in document No. 9398/BTC-HCSN dated August 05, 2020, opinions of the Ministry of Justice in document No. 2477/BTP-PLDSKT dated July 13, 2020; Ministry of Foreign Affairs in document No. 2284/BNG-LS dated July 08, 2020; Ministry of Public Security in document No. 2254/BCA-ANKT dated July 01, 2020; Ministry of Health in document No. 3882/BYT-KHTC dated July 21, 2020, Ministry of National Defense in document No. 2319/BQP-TC dated July 01, 2020; and standing body of the Central Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front in document No. 1173/MTTW-BTT dated July 20, 2020 concerning COVID-19 prevention and control costs and proposal for collection of quarantine and treatment costs, the Prime Minister gives his opinions hereunder:

1. The proposal concerning COVID-19 quarantine and treatment costs from the Ministry of Finance in document No. 9398/BTC-HCSN dated August 05, 2020 is approved. To be specific:

a) Regarding centralized quarantine costs:

- For quarantine in barracks and military schools: continue to offer the benefits for persons placed under centralized quarantine mentioned in the Government’s Resolution No. 37/NQ-CP dated March 29, 2020 on some specific benefits for COVID-19 prevention and control. These benefits shall be covered by state budget and partially covered by the financial support for COVID-19 prevention and control received by the Central Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front.

- For entrants undergoing quarantine in hotels, resorts and other quarantine facilities: these individuals shall pay for their own meals, lodgings and living expenses while undergoing quarantine in hotels, resorts and other quarantine facilities at rates decided by these hotels, resorts and other quarantine facilities; and, concurrently, take tests at the request of health authorities and pay testing costs to healthcare establishments at existing medical fee rates. State budget shall cover disinfection cost, assistance for security forces and other costs according to regulations of law in hotels, resorts and other quarantine facilities.

b) Regarding COVID-19 examination and treatment costs: these costs shall continue to be covered by state budget in compliance with regulations in Clause 2 Article 48 of the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases.

c) Regarding costs of examination and treatment of other diseases while undergoing centralized quarantine: continue to implement regulations in the Government’s Resolution No. 37/NQ-CP dated March 29, 2020, to be specific: (i) for health insurance card holders, health insurance fund shall cover examination and treatment costs covered by health insurance in amounts given per appropriate referral; state budget shall pay copayments and other costs not covered by health insurance; (ii) for those without health insurance cards: costs incurred by Vietnamese citizens shall be covered by the state bank; and foreigners shall incur their examination and treatment costs.

2. The Ministry of National Defense shall continue to prepare quarantine facilities, barracks, military schools and other suitable facilities to accommodate quarantined entrants according to directions of the Prime Minister in Notification No. 203/TB-VPCP dated June 10, 2020 by the Office of the Government.

3. The Ministry of Public Security shall manage foreigners and cooperate with relevant regulatory bodies in placing foreign citizens and Vietnamese citizens entering Vietnam under quarantine according to regulations.

4. People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities shall review hotels, resorts and other suitable facilities where entrants may be quarantined (besides facilities prepared by the army) to meet diverse needs of entrants.

5. The Ministry of Health shall take charge and cooperate with relevant Ministries and regulatory bodies in proposing the following to the Government:

a) Amendments to the Government’s Decree No. 101/2010/ND-CP dated September 30, 2010 on guidelines for Law on Medical Examination and Treatment in terms of implementation of isolation measures, enforced isolation measures and specific anti-epidemic measures during epidemic period, which shall limit costs arising from quarantine and treatment of foreigners currently residing in Vietnam and stipulate that foreign entrants must undergo centralized quarantine as indicated by health authorities and pay for their own meals, lodgings and living expenses while undergoing centralized quarantine.

b) Propose amendments to the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases appropriate to the new situation to the National Assembly.

6. Distribution, management, use and settlement of funding for COVID-19 prevention and control shall be distributed, managed, used and settled in a transparent, economical and effective manner, in accordance with regulations and for the intended purposes and entities.

For your reference and compliance./.