Vietnam: From June 1, 2023, what is the HIV testing and counseling process for HIV surveillance? Who will conduct HIV surveillance?
- What are the methods for HIV surveillance and priority subjects of HIV surveillance in Vietnam?
- What is the HIV testing and counseling process for HIV surveillance in Vietnam?
- What are the regulations on assigning officials to be in charge of updating information on HIV-positive persons for HIV surveillance in Vietnam?
On April 4, 2023, the Ministry of Health issued Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT providing procedures and methods for surveillance of HIV/AIDS epidemiology and sexually transmitted diseases.
What are the methods for HIV surveillance and priority subjects of HIV surveillance in Vietnam?
According to Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT, HIV surveillance means collection of data on HIV/AIDS epidemiological indicators of groups of people who are at different risks of getting HIV/AIDS to detect cases of confirmed HIV infection..
Pursuant to Article 3 of Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT on the methods for HIV surveillance in Vietnam as follows:
- Methods for HIV surveillance include:
+ Counselling before and after HIV testing;
+ HIV testing;
+ Collection, consolidation of and report on epidemiological indicators of HIV/AIDS.
- Priority subjects of HIV surveillance include:
+ Drug users;
+ Prostitutes;
+ Homosexual active people;
+ Transgender people;
+ Spouses and other family members living together with HIV-positve people; spouses of the persons prescribed in Points a, b, c and d of this Clause;
+ Sex partners of HIV-positive persons;
+ People infected with STDs;
+ Frequent travelers;
+ Tuberculosis patients;
+ People having clinical symptoms of HIV/AIDS infection;
+ Prisoners, persons held in detention, and persons held in custody at reform schools, compulsory education institutions or rehabilitation centers;
+ Other subjects.
What is the HIV testing and counseling process for HIV surveillance in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Article 4 of Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT, the HIV testing and counseling process for HIV surveillance in Vietnam is:
- Counselling before and after HIV testing:
+ Counselling before and after HIV testing at healthcare facilities, compulsory education institutions, reform schools, rehabilitation centers, social protection centers, prisons, detention centers and other custody facilities shall be done according to regulations in Circular No. 01/2015/TT-BYT dated February 27, 2015 of the Minister of Health on guidelines on counseling for HIV/AIDS prevention and control at healthcare facilities;
+ Counselling before and after HIV testing in community shall be done according to Decision No. 2673/QD-BYT dated April 27, 2018 of the Minister of Health on promulgation of HIV testing and counseling guidelines in community.
- HIV testing shall be done according to professional guidelines in Decision No. 2674/QD-BYT dated April 27, 2018 of the Minister of Health on promulgation of the national guidelines for HIV testing.
What are the regulations on assigning officials to be in charge of updating information on HIV-positive persons for HIV surveillance in Vietnam?
According to Article 8 of Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT stipulating the procedures for managing information about people getting tested for HIV confirmation as follows:
- After receiving information on the HIV-positive person, VAAC shall assign an official to be in charge of HIV/AIDS surveillance (hereinafter referred to as “surveillance official” to:
+ Update information on the HIV-positive person as prescribed in Appendix 1 enclosed with Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT on the HIV-INFO system;
+ Review, compare and certify information on the HIV-positive person on the HIV-INFO system if there is a request;
+ Cooperate with Institutes in organizing HIV surveillance and assess HIV transmission risks when the number of HIV-positive persons increases according to the professional guidelines.
- After receiving information on the HIV-positive person, the Institutes shall assign a surveillance official to:
+ Update, review, compare and certify information of the HIV-positive person according to Point a and Point b Clause 1 of Article 8 of Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT;
+ Cooperate with VAAC and the provincial HIV/AIDS surveillance agency in organizing HIV surveillance and assess HIV transmission risks when the number of HIV-positive persons increases according to the professional guidelines.
- After receiving information on the HIV-positive person, the provincial HIV/AIDS surveillance agency shall assign a surveillance official to:
+ Update, review, compare and certify information of the HIV-positive person according to Point a and Point b Clause 1 of Article 8 of Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT;
+ Send a notification of information on the HIV-positive person to the HIV/AIDS surveillance agency of the district where the HIV-positive person is residing or has permanent residence via the HIV-INFO system;
+ Organize HIV surveillance in the district and assess HIV transmission risks when the number of HIV-positive persons increases according to the professional guidelines.
- After receiving information on the HIV-positive person, the district-level HIV/AIDS surveillance agency shall assign a surveillance official to:
+ Update information of the HIV-positive person according to Point a Clause 1 of Article 8 of Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT;
+ Take charge and cooperate with the Commune-level medical station in reviewing, comparing, certifying and updating information on the HIV-positive person receiving from the provincial HIV/AIDS surveillance agency on the HIV-INFO system;
+ Send a notification of information on the HIV-positive person to medical station of the commune where the HIV-positive person is residing or has permanent residence via the HIV-INFO system;
+ Organize HIV surveillance in the district and assess HIV transmission risks when the number of HIV-positive persons increases according to the professional guidelines.
- After receiving information on the HIV-positive person, the commune-level medical station shall assign a surveillance official to:
+ Review and calibrate information on the HIV-positive person on the HIV-INFO system;
+ Cooperate with the district-level HIV/AIDS surveillance agency in assessing HIV transmission risks when the number of HIV-positive persons increases according to the professional guidelines.
Circular 07/2023/TT-BYT will take effect from June 1, 2023.
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