The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Plan for 2024 in Vietnam issued by the Ministry of Health

The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Plan for 2024 in Vietnam issued by the Ministry of Health (Internet image) 

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

On March 14, 2024, the Minister of Health issued Decision 612/QD-BYT on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Plan for 2024.

The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Plan for 2024 in Vietnam issued by the Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health's HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Plan for 2024 in Vietnam has set the following objectives:

**General objective

Control the rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the community below 0.3%; reduce the number of new HIV infections, the number of people turning to AIDS, and the number of people dying from HIV/AIDS.

**Detailed objectives

- Objective 1: Expand and innovate communication activities, harm reduction interventions and HIV infection prevention, increase the proportion of people with high-risk behaviors accessing HIV infection prevention services.

- Objective 2: Expand and diversify types of HIV testing counseling, promote community-based HIV testing, and self-testing; increase the proportion of people living with HIV in the community who know their HIV status; closely monitor developments in the HIV/AIDS epidemic in groups with high-risk behavior.

- objective 3: Expand and improve the quality of HIV/AIDS treatment, increase the proportion of HIV-infected people who know their HIV status and receive antiretroviral treatment; and increase the proportion of people treated with antiretroviral drugs for HIV whose viral load is below the suppression threshold.

- Objective 4: Consolidate and strengthen the capacity of the HIV/AIDS prevention and control system at all levels; ensure human resources for HIV/AIDS prevention and control; Ensure financial support for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

In addition, the Plan also includes a number of basic targets for HIV/AIDS prevention and control nationwide by 2024:

To realize the above objectives and targets, the Ministry of Health has issued many specific solutions for implementation, including the development of legal documents and professional guidance with the following contents:

(1) Developing legal documents

- Submit to the Government for promulgation a Government Decree detailing a number of articles of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control .

- Circular of the Ministry of Health replacing Circular 28/2018/TT-BYT regulating the management and treatment of people infected with HIV and people exposed to HIV at medical facilities.

- Circular of the Ministry of Health regulating economic and technical norms for preventive health service packages in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

- Circular of the Ministry of Health regulating the maximum price of preventive medical services in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

(2) Develop plans and professional instructions

- Regarding monitoring and testing

+ Amend Decision 2674/QD-BYT promulgating National Guidelines for HIV testing.

+ Amend Decision 02/QD-BYT promulgating Guidelines for implementing assessment and supervision of laboratory technical support for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

+ Develop a national public health response plan for the period 2024–2029.

+ Develop a "list of provinces, cities, and key monitoring subjects for each province and city, along with instructions on sample selection methods and procedures for organizing and implementing key monitoring.".

+ Develop a toolkit to improve the quality of information feedback and program data sharing activities.

+ Issue Guidelines for implementation of assessment, supervision, and technical support of HIV testing activities.

- Regarding interventions to prevent HIV infection and prevent and combat drug use

+ Revised Guidelines for treatment of opioid addiction with Methadone.

+ Instructions for implementing the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and commemorating World HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Day.

- About HIV/AIDS treatment

+ Update and edit Decision 5968/QD-BYT dated December 31, 2021 of the Minister of Health on promulgating guidelines for HIV/AIDS treatment and care.

+ Plan to implement Hepatitis C treatment for people at high risk of HIV infection in the period 2024–2026.

+ Plan for supplying anti-HIV drugs to treat HIV infection in 2024.

+ Instructions for prevention, treatment, and care of HIV, hepatitis C virus, and sexually transmitted infections for people at high risk of HIV infection.

- Regarding strengthening system capacity

+ Plan of the Ministry of Health to implement the 2024 Working Program of the National Committee for Prevention and Control of AIDS, Drugs, and Prostitution (after receiving Notice from the Government Office).

+ Develop a sustainable roadmap for controlling the AIDS epidemic until 2030.

+ Provide guidance on the financial support and payment regime for patients undergoing ARV treatment with health insurance cards (integrated with the Ministry of Health's circular guiding drug bidding).

More details can be found in Decision 612/QD-BYT, taking effect on March 14, 2024.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE