Procedure for Reviewing the Provision of Confidential Medical Documents to Foreign Entities

According to Circular 06/2015/BYT, when it is necessary to provide documents or materials containing state secrets to international organizations, foreign entities, or to take them abroad, the following regulations must be adhered to:

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- The "Top Secret" category must be approved by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam;

- The "Confidential" category must be approved by the Minister of Public Security. For the defense sector, it must be approved by the Minister of National Defense;

- The "Secret" category must be approved by the Minister of Health or the Director of the Department of Health.

The unit and the individual carrying out the procedure are only allowed to provide the exact content that has been approved and must require the recipient to use the information for the agreed-upon purpose and not disclose it to a third party.

Furthermore, when taking documents abroad, a document must be presented clearly stating how the confidential information is to be taken abroad. Approval must be sought from the higher-level governing body through the vertical system and from related entities for consideration and decision-making.

Healthcare sector officials and employees, when interacting with foreigners, are prohibited from disclosing state secrets in general and state secrets within the healthcare sector in particular. Work involving secrets should not be conducted in the presence of individuals who are not authorized. In case of loss of secret documents, the unit head must be immediately notified, and a report must also be submitted to the public security agency for prompt handling.

Details can be found in Circular 06/2015/BYT, effective from May 15, 2015.

Thu Ba

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