For achieving the health policy objectives of the Government, the Ministry

sets government tasks related to the health status of the population and its preservation, and examines the impacts of government decisions on health is involved in

• co-ordinating health policies with economic, regional development, urban development, environmental protection and education policies
• fulfilling tasks stipulated by the Public Finance Act in connection with the central budget and budgets of the social insurance funds as well as with other financial tasks,
• formulating economic and social policy initiatives, systems regulating public financing and the national economy, that fall within the sphere of authority of the Ministry
• drafting legislation governing the financing of the health care service co-operates with interest groups and professional organisations of the health sector, particularly with the professional chambers and the health research bodies of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

determines the tasks and action programmes arising from the government?s policies on

• national social services
• improving the living standards of families
• the protection of children
• preventing the social exclusion of the elderly
• improving opportunities for persons living with disabilities
• social insurance and pensions (jointly with the Ministry of Finance)

co-ordinates the formulation and implementation of the Government?s population policy and, in close co-operation with the Ministry of Employment and Labour, government initiatives to ensure equal opportunities for the socially disadvantaged is involved in formulating and implementing the government?s policies on living standards, employment, housing and regional development represents the government at national interest representation fora in questions related to the sphere of authority of the Ministry, and liases on a regular basis with relevant municipal bodies and civil organisations

directs, co-ordinates and organises

• the systems of health care and social services
• scientific research in the fields related to the health sector
• social insurance-related health and pensions policy tasks
• the implementation of an effective national health strategy aiming at preventing diseases
• government tasks related to health preservation
• qualifications and special higher education of health professionals, as well as all related forms of vocational training that are listed in the National Training Register (OKJ), falling under the supervision of the Ministry defines
• the professional supervisory system of the health sector
• the training structure, qualification requirements of professionals in health and social fields
• the national system of public health services
• government tasks and procedures related to the provision of social services, child and youth protection, and within this, the tasks of each individual institution as well as the personnel and material conditions necessary for the operation
• the national defence-related tasks of organisations under the management or supervision of the Ministry during an emergency, state of emergency or extraordinary situation (hereinafter: time of emergency), specifying which organisations should participate in national defence work, the professional standards to be applied during such activities, and the procedures for cooperation between organisations under the supervision of the Ministry and the local administrative bodies
• with regard to persons employed in the health and social sector, special criteria in relation to their status as civil servants, the job descriptions pertaining to the various categories of civil servant, the related job titles, and the regulations for exemption from the obligation to obtain the required formal qualifications (training)
• the conditions for overtime working and staff availability, the remuneration for staff availability and for work carried out during periods of availability
• the regulations on sector-specific further education, the regulations pertaining to the vocational examination on social services, and the requirements for professional training operates
• the Social Policy Council
• the Charity Council
• the National Health Council
• the National Council for the Disabled
• the Council for the Elderly
• exercises legal supervision over the relevant professional chambers supports and assists sectoral initiatives as well as public service and civil organisations assisting in their implementation administer tasks related to quality assurance, quality control and authority quality supervision in the relevant areas exercises the employer?s rights makes recommendations regarding sectoral wage supplements is responsible for the setting up, operation and further development of the uniform sectoral statistical and information system fulfils church-related tasks falling under the authority of the Ministry, laid down in a separate legislation administers tasks related to ethnic Hungarians abroad, falling under the authority of the Ministry, pursuant to a separate legislation