What are the positions, functions and tasks of general practice facilities in Vietnam?

The positions, functions and tasks of general practice facilities are detailed in Article 2 of Circular 21/2019/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam as follows:

Illustration (source: internet)

First, regarding the positions and functions: The family medicine facilities shall be the first to accept, manage, take care of health initially, consult, prevent diseases, improve health, perform emergency treatment, examine and treat general diseases following the family medicine principles applicable for households and persons.

Second, regarding the tasks:

- Community health management:

+ Prepare the personal health records as set forth under Decision No. 831/QD-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam on the issuance of personal health management form serving initial health care;

+ Manage and conduct health care following the family medicine principles for persons and households as assigned by the Health Departments of provinces and central-affiliated cities (hereinafter referred to as “the Health Departments”).

- Health improvement and disease prevention advice:

+ Give advice on nutrition, health activities, prevention of cigarette, alcoholic beverages harmful effects and other risks to health; give advice on disease examination and treatment to persons, households and community;

+ Publicize, educate the people on health, raise their awareness of active and effective disease prevention, prevention of health risks;

+ Provide guidelines on environmental hygiene and food safety;

+ Participate in monitor, early detection and prevention of disease in the community;

+ Vaccinate;

+ Prevent non-communicable diseases: cancer,cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and bronchial asthma.

- Implementation of programs and activities relating community health care, community-based functional restoration, palliative care, end-of-live care; the programs relating health-population target, maternal child and elders health, population – birth control, combination of traditional medicine and modern medicine.

- Medical examination and treatment:

+ Perform first aid and provide emergency medical services;

+ Conduct screening, early detection of illnesses, particularly the contagious diseases;

+ Chronic diseases, non-communicable diseases;

+ Take care, examine and treat diseases at home for patients mentioned in the list under the Annex issued together with this Circular;

+ Provide technical services in:

++ The basic medical service packs under Circulars of the Minister of Health;

++ The technical lists of level 3, level 4 under Circulars of the Minister of Health on classifying specialized levels, technical list;

++ Other specialized techniques, in higher levels once satisfactory to the regulations.

The maximum specialized operation range of the family medicine facilities and practitioners includes the services and techniques under this Point. Based on the actual facilities, equipment and personnel conditions (operating license, specialized certificates, family medicine qualification of the practitioners) of each family medicine facility, the Ministry of Health, the Health Department shall determine the specialized operation range, the list of techniques suitable for each family medicine facility, the specialized operation range of the family medicine practitioners under their management.

- Transfer of the patients to the higher levels according to the appropriate sector; accept the patients receiving steady treatment from the higher levels to continue the treatment as set forth under Circular No. 14/2014/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam on change of medical examination and treatment facility levels;

- Participation in scientific research, training, technical conversion relating family medicine; acting as the practicing facilities in family medicine training as per law.

- Implementation of other tasks specified by the competent authorities.

Other provisions can be found in Circular 21/2019/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam, effective from October 15, 2019.

Thu Ba

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