Vietnam: How is the price of Covid-19 testing service implemented according to the latest regulations in 2022?
- How should the Department of Health of provinces and cities regulate the price of SARS-CoV-2 testing services according to the proposal of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam?
- What is the task of the Department of Health of the provinces and cities in implementing the price of SARS-CoV-2 testing service?
How should the Department of Health of provinces and cities regulate the price of SARS-CoV-2 testing services according to the proposal of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam?
According to the guidance in Section 2 of Official Dispatch 1157/BYT-KHTC dated March 10, 2022, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam proposes the Department of Health of provinces and cities to set prices for SARS-CoV-2 testing services as follows:
"2. Request the Department of Health of the provinces and cities to urgently report to the competent authorities of the locality to determine the price level in case it is not within the payment range of the Health Insurance Fund applicable to medical examination and treatment facilities. State-owned disease and treatment facilities in provinces and centrally run cities and medical examination and treatment establishments under ministries and central agencies located in their localities according to the guidance in Circular 02/2022/ TT-BYT dated February 18, 2022 above."
According to that, the prices of SARS-CoV-2 testing service in case it is not within the payment scope of the Health Insurance Fund is guided in Clause 2 Article 3 of Circular 02/2022/TT-BYT of Vietnam as follows:
“Article 3. Prices for SARS-CoV-2 testing services
…
2. Prices for SARS-CoV-2 testing services which are ineligible for reimbursement by the health insurance fund:
a) For state-owned healthcare facilities affiliated to provinces or central-affiliated cities and healthcare facilities affiliated to Ministries and central authorities located in the locality, except for the provision in point b hereof: The price shall be determined as prescribed in clause 1 hereof, in which the price shall include the direct cost and cost of salaries and wages (exclusive of reactions test biologicals) stipulated by the local competent authority but not exceeding the maximum price of the SARS-CoV-2 testing bracket as prescribed in column 1 Appendix issued herewith;
b) For healthcare facilities affiliated to the Ministry of Health and special-class hospitals, class-I hospitals affiliated to Ministries and central authorities and state-owned healthcare facilities that provide preventive medicine services: the prices are specified in clause 1 hereof.”
Specifically, the maximum price frame for SARS-CoV-2 testing services as specified in column 1 of the Appendix enclosed with Circular 02/2022/TT-BYT of Vietnam is as follows:
No. | SERVICE | Price (VND) | ||
Price (exclusive of biologicals) | Maximum price (inclusive of biologicals) | |||
A | B | 1 | 2 | |
I | SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test, individual specimen | 11.200 | 78.000 | |
II | Testing for SARS-CoV-2 by automatic or semi-automatic immunoassay machine, individual specimen, including: | 30.800 | 178.900 | |
III | Testing for SARS-CoV-2 using Real-time PCR technique in case of individual specimen, including: | 212.700 |
| |
1 | Taking and storing specimens | 45.400 |
| |
2 | Performing test and reporting result | 167.300 |
| |
3 | Total price for testing services inclusive of biologicals for reactions |
| 501.800 | |
IV | Testing for SARS-CoV-2 using Real-time PCR technique in case of pooled specimen |
|
| |
1 | Less than or equal to 5 swabs are pooled on site (place where the specimen is taken) | 78.800 |
| |
1.1 | Taking and storing specimens | 24.100 |
| |
1.2 | Performing test and reporting result | 54.700 |
| |
1.3 | Total price for testing services inclusive of biologicals for reactions |
|
| |
1.3.1 | 2 swabs are pooled |
| 223.300 | |
1.3.2 | 3 swabs are pooled |
| 175.100 | |
1.3.3 | 4 swabs are pooled |
| 151.000 | |
1.3.4 | 5 swabs are pooled |
| 136.600 | |
2 | 6-10 swabs are pooled on site (place where the specimen is taken) | 62.500 |
| |
2.1 | Taking and storing specimens | 23.300 |
| |
2.2 | Performing test and reporting result | 39.200 |
| |
2.3 | Total price for testing services inclusive of biologicals for reactions |
|
| |
2.3.1 | 6 swabs are pooled |
| 110.600 | |
2.3.2 | 7 swabs are pooled |
| 103.800 | |
2.3.3 | 8 swabs are pooled |
| 98.600 | |
2.3.4 | 9 swabs are pooled |
| 94.600 | |
2.3.5 | 10 swabs are pooled |
| 91.400 | |
3 | Pooling less than or equal to 5 specimens in lab | 112.500 |
| |
3.1 | Taking and storing specimens | 48.400 |
| |
3.2 | Performing test and reporting result | 64.100 |
| |
3.3 | Total price for testing services inclusive of biologicals for reactions |
|
| |
3.3.1 | 2 specimens are pooled |
| 257.000 | |
3.3.2 | 3 specimens are pooled |
| 208.800 | |
3.3.3 | 4 specimens are pooled |
| 184.700 | |
3.3.4 | 5 specimens are pooled |
| 170.300 | |
4 | Pooling 6-10 specimens in lab | 97.200 |
| |
4.1 | Taking and storing specimens | 49.200 |
| |
4.2 | Performing test and reporting result | 48.000 |
| |
4.3 | Total price for testing services inclusive of biologicals for reactions |
|
| |
4.3.1 | 6 specimens are pooled |
| 145.300 | |
4.3.2 | 7 specimens are pooled |
| 138.500 | |
4.3.3 | 8 specimens are pooled |
| 133.300 | |
4.3.4 | 9 specimens are pooled |
| 129.300 | |
4.3.5 | 10 specimens are pooled |
| 126.100 |
What are the responsibilities of medical facilities in implementing the price of SARS-CoV-2 testing services?
According to the instructions in Section 3, Section 4 of Official Dispatch 1157/BYT-KHTC of Vietnam dated March 10, 2022, medical facilities are responsible for implementing the price of SARS-CoV-2 testing services as follows:
"3. Collect and pay for testing costs for each subject in accordance with the law on prices and guiding documents. Medical facilities should note the implementation of economical testing methods, efficiency. In the case of sample pooling, the sample pool price must be applied, not the sample test price or the lower aggregate sample price (for example, sample pooling 10 but applying the price of sample pooling 5) to collect and pay with the patient, affecting the patient's rights.
Medical establishments are responsible for purchasing supplies, chemicals and biological products for SARS-CoV-2 testing in accordance with the law on bidding; ensure adequate supplies, chemicals and biological products for testing patients when they come for medical examination and treatment. Medical facilities may not collect additional fees from patients or require patients to pay for their own costs related to testing (eg, buying rapid tests).
4. Non-public medical facilities that are eligible for COVID-19 testing as prescribed: must not take advantage of the epidemic situation to increase the price of COVID-19 testing services, and at the same time must decide on the prices, price declaration, price listing in accordance with regulations."
Vietnam: How is the price of SARS-CoV-2 testing service implemented according to the latest regulations in 2022?
What is the task of the Department of Health of the provinces and cities in implementing the price of SARS-CoV-2 testing service?
According to the instructions in Section 5, Section 6 of Official Dispatch 1157/BYT-KHTC of Vietnam dated March 10, 2022, the Departments of Health of provinces and cities in implementing the price of SARS-CoV-2 testing services must ensure the following tasks:
"5. Departments of Health of provinces and centrally run cities, according to their functions and tasks, strengthen inspection and examination. inspect the implementation of the provisions of the law on pricing for medical facilities in the area, especially the compliance with regulations on the price of COVID-19 testing services by private medical facilities; To require medical facilities to set up and decide on prices and declare and publicly announce the prices of COVID-19 testing services in accordance with the law on prices if any, do not let the situation take advantage of the epidemic to increase the price of general medical services and COVID-19 testing services of medical facilities in the area.
6. Departments of Health of provinces and cities actively coordinate with relevant Departments/ Departments/ Sectors or report to the People's Committees of provinces and cities, the Provincial Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control for advice and direction to solve difficulties and problems (if any) during the implementation of the Circular. Cases beyond the capacity to report in writing to the Ministry of Health for timely guidance and settlement."
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