How Should Prescription and Distribution of Antiretroviral Drugs Be Conducted for HIV-Infected Persons Undergoing Re-examination?

At Clause 2, Article 6 of Circular 28/2018/TT-BYT, which stipulates the management of treatment for individuals infected with HIV and those exposed to HIV at medical facilities issued by the Minister of Health, effective from January 1, 2019, there are provisions for prescribing and distributing anti-HIV drugs to patients as follows:

a) In the case where the patient has been under anti-HIV drug treatment for less than 12 months, prescribe and dispense drugs with a maximum quantity for 30 days of use. If the patient wishes to receive anti-HIV drugs at the commune-level health station, assessment of the criteria for receiving drugs at the commune health station should be conducted, prescribe, dispense, and guide the HIV-infected individual about receiving drugs at the commune health station as stipulated in points c and d, Clause 2 of this Article. A referral form should be completed as guided in Appendix 02 issued along with this Circular. Schedule a follow-up as stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article;

b) In the case where the patient has been under anti-HIV drug treatment for 12 months or more:

If the anti-HIV drug treatment is not stable: prescribe and dispense anti-HIV drugs with a maximum quantity for 30 days of use.

If the anti-HIV drug treatment is stable and the patient wishes to continue receiving anti-HIV drugs at the treatment facility: prescribe and dispense anti-HIV drugs with a maximum quantity for 90 days of use.

If the patient’s anti-HIV drug treatment is stable and they wish to collect drugs at the commune health station: Prescribe, dispense, and guide the HIV-infected individual about receiving drugs at the commune health station as stipulated in points c and d, Clause 2 of this Article. Complete a referral form as guided in Appendix 02 issued along with this Circular.

c) Criteria for patients receiving anti-HIV drugs at the commune health station: individuals infected with HIV who have been on anti-HIV drug treatment for at least 06 months, responding well in terms of clinical, immunological criteria, adhering well to treatment, without side effects of drugs that need frequent monitoring, without comorbidities, and wishing to collect drugs at the commune health station;

d) Prescribing and dispensing drugs for patients collecting anti-HIV drugs at the commune health station: the treatment facility prescribes anti-HIV drugs to be recorded in the outpatient medical record and the patient’s health book with a maximum of 90 days of use. The prescribed drugs are dispensed in a maximum of 3 installments. The maximum amount of drugs per installment is for 30 days of use. The first installment is collected at the treatment facility. Subsequent installments are collected at the commune health station. Once the drugs dispensed at the commune health station run out or according to the scheduled follow-up appointment, the patient returns to the treatment facility for examination and the next prescription.

Above is the content of the consultation. Hopefully, this information will be helpful to you.

Sincerely!