The Department of Social Assistance under the Ministry of Health has issued a formal directive to provincial and municipal health departments across Vietnam, urging them to intensify inspections and reviews of all social support centers within their jurisdictions.

The directive follows a tragic incident in which a trainee died shortly after being admitted to Hai Ha Social Protection Center in Quang Ninh Province.

In response, the ministry has ordered all local health departments to urgently conduct comprehensive inspections of all social welfare facilities, with special attention to privately operated centers.

The aim is to strengthen oversight and improve the management, care, and protection of children and vulnerable groups across the country.

Authorities are required to ensure that each facility is operating strictly within the scope of its licensed services, in accordance with Decree No. 103/2017/ND-CP and all relevant legal frameworks.

For facilities found to be operating in violation of their licenses, local authorities are instructed to immediately suspend operations and investigate any misconduct or legal violations. In cases where facilities are deemed unqualified to provide care, officials must coordinate the transfer of residents with identifiable home addresses back to their localities. For individuals without known places of residence, these cases must be evaluated for transfer into public social welfare institutions.

The Ministry also mandates that each facility align the number of people it serves with its available infrastructure and staffing capacity. To enhance security and safety, suitable areas within each facility must be equipped with surveillance systems.

The directive also emphasizes strengthening the roles of local governments-particularly the People’s Committees of wards and communes-in supervising and monitoring the activities of social support centers within their areas.

All provincial health departments are required to submit reports on their inspection results to the Department of Social Assistance no later than January 15, to be compiled and reviewed by the Ministry of Health for further action.

N. Huyen