Elder Law implementation – More evidence and actions needed

On November 30 2009, Vietnam Public Health Association (VPHA), co-operating with Vietnam National Committee on Aging (VNCA), hosted a conference titled “Policy and Policy Implementation for Vietnamese Elderly” following the adoption of the Elder Law by National Assembly on November 23rd, 2009. The conference provided an important forum where policymakers and stakeholders could meet and share practical ideas about the new law.

There were more than 60 participants from several governmental and non-governmental agencies such as the Ministry of Labor Invalid and Social Affairs; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Culture Sport and Tourism; the Ministry of Transport; the Vietnam Association of Elderly; VPHA; the Vietnam Women’s Union; universities and institutions; leaders of provincial People’s Committees, Department of Labor Invalid and Social Affairs and representatives from Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Thai Binh, Hanoi and Ninh Binh.

Vietnam’s population will begin aging in the first decade of the 21st century. Since 2000, Vietnam National Assembly has adopted the Elder Ordinance. Several kinds of elderly caring and support have been conducted at central and local level, especially in underserved rural areas. However, the Ordinance did not cover all older persons’ problems, and did not meet the needs of fast growing Vietnamese population. The Elder Law, according to legal experts, is more comprehensive and concrete, harmonized with international programs on elderly.

A literature review indicates that, before the new Elder Law, policies mainly attributed the responsibility of elderly support to governmental agencies; they did not involve other socio-economic elements in the process. Additionally, during the process of the development of the policies, scientific evidences were not obtained to design concrete articles. The ordinance has improved social welfare policies, however, the implementation of health policies has not been effective. Health facilities for seniors have been built, but most of them located in urban areas. It is necessary to reprogram the development of health system for seniors, and guidelines and norms for monitoring and evaluation need to be developed.

At the conference it was stated that when the new law goes into effect, national governmental agencies will need to design guideline documents based on evidence to make the law more practical.
With its own mission, VPHA will unite all policy makers, researchers and public health workers under an umbrella to make the Elder Law a useful measure to promote Vietnamese seniors’ quality of life.

Last Updated on Friday, 08 October 2010 09:56

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