This fund is designed to help tackle urgent health issues caused by pandemics. It will also support proactive disease prevention and cover costs for prevention activities that the State budget does not fully fund.
According to the draft law, the disease prevention fund will be an off-budget State financial fund. It will have its own legal status, seal, and separate account. The Prime Minister will establish the fund and approve its rules and regulations.
The fund will be exempt from taxes and State budget contributions as allowed by law.
Its funding will come from several sources, including:
- Capital allocated from the State budget
- Annual budget allocations based on financial capacity
- A portion of revenue from excise taxes on products harmful to health
- Mandatory contributions from producers and importers of harmful products
- Voluntary donations from businesses, organizations, and individuals both domestic and international
- Funds from the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund
- Other lawful sources
Producers and importers must declare and pay their contributions along with excise taxes directly into the fund’s account. The Government will provide detailed rules on how these mechanisms work.
The fund’s main goals are to address urgent public health problems linked to pandemics, support active disease prevention, and provide financial resources for prevention tasks not fully covered by the State budget. It also aims to ensure sustainable funding for ongoing disease prevention efforts.
The fund will operate as a non-profit entity. It must keep its charter capital intact and cover its own management expenses.
All financial activities, including revenue, spending, and accounting, must follow the law. The fund will be subject to inspection and audit by State financial authorities and the State Audit Office. It will also be monitored by the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the public.
Transparency, thrift, and efficiency are required in all fund operations.
If there is any surplus at the end of a financial year, it can be carried over to the next year for further use.
The Government will set the rules for managing and using the fund.
The Ministry of Health is preparing the Law on Disease Prevention to improve control of infectious diseases, reduce illness rates, and limit disabilities and premature deaths caused by non-communicable diseases.
The ministry says a new, comprehensive law is needed to fix current weaknesses in protecting and improving public health and to meet new challenges.
The draft law also includes rules on public education about disease prevention, control of infectious and non-communicable diseases, mental health issues, nutrition, and other related conditions.
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